Just back from date night at L'Avant Garde. The TL/DR: beautiful interior, awesome drinks, great service, but there were too many misses on the food and not enough wows to justify the extravagant prices. A bit more detail: + Waitress was awesome; attentive but not pushy + Interior is delightful; ambiance is relaxing + Cocktails were outstanding, particularly their take on a margarita. + Dessert (chocolate soufflé) may have been the best we've ever had - Octopus and burrata were both "good" but not particularly noteworthy. My wife remarked of the grilled octopus, "it's grilled octopus." - The fish (turbot) was cooked perfectly, but it was a simple, small piece of fish on vegetables (carrots, zucchini) that we honestly prepare better at home. The carrots were rock hard. - The risotto was a complete mess. WAY too much pecorino, overpowering even a generous helping of black truffle. - A small niggle, but the butter served with the bread is cold and rock hard, and the bread isn't warm enough to melt it. No way to spread the butter, which is the kind of detail you can't overlook at this price point. There's a recent trend of French chefs wanting to bridge the gap between bistro and Le Bernardin (see also: Le Petite Cerise). We love Le Bernardin, and we've been happy to pay hundreds of dollars to eat there, but they would never serve up misses like what's above. Similarly, we love the French bistro fare at Brasserie Liberte just up the street, where dinner for 2 is more like $90/pp. Gotta do better at $180/pp all in, or you won't be around long in this market! read more

This used to be undisputedly my FAVORITE French restaurant in the DMV area. I was happy when they temporarily closed down to do a renovation (back room would be freezing cold and could use a remodel). I went back as soon as they reopened to find out the entire menu has changed and worse the chef had left. I was so disappointed with every dish we ordered that I did not finish a single course. Grilled octopus app was overcooked and crunchy. Sea bass tasted like it was just boiled; very bland. Cocktails were also nowhere near as good as the past. Did not care for the strawberry dessert either (bring back the macaroon and soufflé). New chef clearly is not up to par. Will not be returning anymore sadly. Service was also very poor. Go to Marcels for a much better dining experience. read more

One of the best meals I've had in DC in a very long time, including some of the highest rated places. As others have said, the ambiance is charming, relaxing , and very much reminiscent of hood restaurants in Paris. You certainly do not feel that the streets of DC are just a few yards away. As were the dishes we were served, including white asparagus with yellowtail crudo, a foie gras beignet, and my favorite, salmon prepared "like herring," with sliced potato on the side. (Always happy when this is offered in Paris.) Mains of roast chicken, beef à matelote were great, but the branzino with a poultry jus and foie gras was exquisite. Can't imagine it better prepared. And until foie gras is banned -- which would not be a tragedy -- it's a pretty great accompaniment to grilled fish. Next time, I'll starve in advance so I can handle the sweetbreads, as this is a kitchen I'm sure I can trust with them. After such a meal, I'd like a lighter dessert than any offered -- I probably should have gone for the Roquefort terrine -- as I can't really handle rich coffee or chocolate sweets at night. I heard the chocolate soufflé was terrific, though. The cocktail menu is one of the most inventive I've seen. Tried the danser en Provence" because it sounded so novel -- a kind of tomato, lavender, I don't know what margarita -- but stayed because it was such a perfect prelude to a good meal. The service is very French -- warm and friendly while remaining attentive and meticulous. Like others, I do wonder why a place like this can't be convinced to keep butter serving outside the refrigerator for a couple of hours. Not a place where you want to think much about budget, so great for special occasions. read more

Arguably one of the best meals of my life! Food and service were extraordinary! We had a party of 8 and were seated in the semi-private room. All of this added to a spectacular night! read more

We were super excited to go back...,simply put, very disappointed. Service was not good at all. i can't even explain how our $175 ribeye for two was served...it was horrible. The awesome female sommelier is no longer there, instead we had a manager who clearly knew nothing about wine, tell us a $365 bottle was really "punching up"...what?!? Really need to make some improvements. Cocktails are great...go for a drink before dinner somewhere else. read more

Chef Sebastian's grandmother's recipe soup was delicious. Eggplant salad, drinks and desserts all great. However we were disappointed with lobster fettuccine dish. It was very average. Service is attentive. I would return to this restaurant to try other dishes. read more

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Very excited to see this charming new addition in Georgetown. M Street is a perfect home for this "little corner of Paris"! They did a great job renovating and styling. Dark-Modern-Romantic. Luxe velvet drapes, grand pampas grass arrangements, oversized ginger gars and a cozy fireplace make this a must go spot just for the atmosphere. Food was superb. We tried many things on the menu and everything was excellent. Favorites for appetizers were the foie gras beignet. Favorite entrees - Chateaubriand and sea scallops. For dessert, do not leave without the raspberry macaron. Portions seemed perfect to us. We all left happy and full! The staff appear knowledgeable about the menu and excited about serving chef's dishes and food in general! Some staff were french and that was a nice touch. Other reviewers are not wrong, the price tag is hefty. With the high price tag comes higher expectations. So, some things that are a bit of a disconnect for the price tag would be extra charges for ordering more bread....just include it. Freezing cold bathroom in the back of the restaurant. It felt like I ventured to a different place. And while service was good it did not match the price tag in my opinion. L'Avant Garde needs to offer amuse bouche to start, a complimentary parting gift like a couple truffles wrapped up in a little box with bow. Consider adding a cool after dinner drink cart or cheese cart... They're going to have to roll out the red carpet to make people want to pay these prices regularly. I would love to return and see how things evolve here over time. They've only been open a short time but I'm rooting for them! read more

After lots of buzz, I thought this would be the perfect restaurant to celebrate an anniversary. We wine and dine a lot and had moderate expectations prior to sitting down for dinner. We were running 5 min late for our 5:15p reservation and called the restaurant, and the host told us, "That's fine just know we have a reservation at your table at 7:30p." We arrived 5 min early for our reservation for our anniversary and the host seated us, and again, reminded us that our table was expecting guests at 7:30pm and we needed to be wrapped up by then... on our anniversary. Our server, Bobby, was excellent. We expressed our frustrations and he was sympathetic but it still started the evening off on the wrong foot. Now that I've gotten that off my chest, onto the food. We dined here on a Tuesday at 5pm when they opened. At opening, they informed us they were somehow sold out of all dishes with scallops (how? And why have them on the menu?). Continuing with the theme of not having items presented on the menu, I ordered the Saint Pierre Fillet with citrus broth. Ten minutes after ordering, our waiter came out and informed us that they had run out of Saint Pierre fillet and recommended Turbot instead which I happily agreed to, however, after another 10 minutes, our waiter came back out to let us know they also did not have turbot anymore either. The butter for the bread was too hard to spread on the bread, but it was delicious and transported us to France. The beignets were unique and flavorful, one of their better dishes and we recommend to try. The salmon was light and refreshing, as were the paired potatoes - we also recommend this dish. The beef cheeks were excellent and complex with layers of flavor. We wanted to love this restaurant. The kitchen clearly has some kinks to work out in their freezer and with their host. When 7pm came around (30 min before the next apparent reservation), they already had staff walking around asking us if we wanted them to take our plates and bring us boxes. Feeling rushed, we said yes to boxes. To our surprise, they brought us a container and dropped it on the table. I'm sorry, is this McDonalds? A restaurant of this caliber, and a Michelin starred chef, we expected so much more from their team. We shouldn't have to pack our own doggy bag on a $400 tab. All in all, we had a good experience and would probably return, but they need to work out the new restaurant kinks and and get their ducks in a row so they can deliver service and food that meets the quality of ambiance they offer. Absolutely beautiful restaurant, but there's definitely room for improvement. read more

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There are some interesting dishes, but also glaring service misses for this price point. If you are looking for the best French food in D.C., go to Convivial. If you want a trendy night with lots of foie gras, go here. Perhaps these are opening glitches. We could have forgiven all issues noted below, had we not been made to feel bad and guilty for inquiring about our missing dessert (read below). Food: Desserts and bread are great. That is a credit to Boulangerie Christophe, which is fantastic. Now apps. The foie gras beignet was innovative. The salmon and octopus were winners. Not particularly creative but a great combination of flavors, assuming you enjoy salmon and octopus. The entrees were a step down. The sweetbreads were good, with a nutty taste, although the edge could be crispier. The beef matelote was as if a beef stew fell into an olive bar. It's off putting, unless you really like olives. The branzino is fine and cooked well with a crispy skin, but nothing unique about the flavor profile, except that foie gras is thrown on top (if you call that unique). The risotto, sadly, was mediocre, not nearly as creamy as we all expected. But the diner eating the Saint-Pierre liked it ("light"). Service: The staff is nice. The front of house (host) is especially fantastic and polite. The wait or food service staff was good, but raw around the edges for this price point. For example, they emphasize we order the entire meal at once, including dessert. It makes for a less enjoyable evening when you have to forecast how filling the food will be and decide what desserts you want. If they want to force you to do a prix fixe, then do that. Don't call your menu a la carte but pressure an early order. The forcing of an early order is especially odd given the staff forgot to and never asked us for our coffee order. What's more, when diners at the end of entrees asked to order drinks with the dessert, the sommelier did not show up for a while, until after the desserts had been finished. More rough spots. Our server didn't accurately write down our order. He had some excuse about having to rush from another table. But to his credit, he came back to the table to confirm the order. Except he confirmed the order at one side of the table, which was not in tune with what desserts the other side ordered (there were duplicate dessert orders that he missed). So, some desserts did not arrive. Still, not a problem. We raised the oversight with the server. We expected some apology or point about miscommunication, and a nice discussion about what dessert we could still order. It would have been very easy to fix. Instead, the server melted away friendliness, and became very defensive. He insisted that was why he came back to the table and repeated the order to us. It was, in other words, the diners' fault. Nevermind that he repeated much of it to one end of the table, not the other side (it's loud). He did not offer to put the dessert order in, and explain it might be a wait, or suggest other options. Just defensive. No attempt at a remedy. It was shocking. We felt like he was scolding us. We felt attacked, and didn't know what to do and said, it's fine. Even if the client is wrong or misremembers, great service does not seek blame, but instead thinks of how to salvage things. Sadly this was a theme. When one visibly pregnant diner asked if items were pasteurized, the service staff just said "probably not" or "probably," but did not offer to ask the kitchen, as every other restaurant does. When the same pregnant diner asked if the foie gras could be served on the side of the branzino (rather than on top), the server suggested she slide it off. Moreover, when one diner asked for more bread, we were informed it was an upcharge, but they didn't actually know the cost of the upcharge. And instead of bringing a few more slices, they asked if we want 2 or 4 slices, as if we were at grandma's deli. Are we actually spending $41 on a small bowl of risotto and then paying for each slice of bread? C'mon. In an interview with Eater, the chef said, "I don't think there's a French restaurant like this in D.C....They're gonna be able to try the real flavor from France, for people who don't have a chance to go to France. That's what I'm excited about,' said Epié." If by the "true flavor" he meant service that departs from the American standard that the customer is always right, then that is spot on. Ambiance: 4 stars. Wonderful modern, room, with good colors. But some details were overlooked. We had a wobbly table that we had to point out to the staff. (Although they replaced it quickly.) A light above one of the diners was flickering. All of us agreed the bathrooms were very cold. It's unclear if that's because they're in the basement, or poorly designed, or meant to be cold to keep bathroom visits short and people flowing. Oddly, the stall doors open out and hit someone if they are washing their hands. Again, just oversight in design. read more

Cocktails were impressive. Super creative and delicious! Lunch prix fixe menu was delicious.

Absolutely superb dining experience. It's very rare to hit all the boxes - food, service, drinks, mood were all outstanding. Georgetown has needed a place like this for a long time, we will be running back for more! Drinks to start: Duck Fat Old Fashioned w/ Smoke, 5/5. Wine: Domaine des Hauts Châssis, Les Galets [Syrah], perfect pairing with the rich foods we had. App: Marinated Scottish salmon, herring-style with warm potato, 5/5. This was one of the best appetizers I've had in a long time. The idea is so simple but the flavor and quality of the salmon were a win. We loved it. Porcini and black truffle risotto, 5/5. The richest risotto we've ever had. You must be a mushroom lover to enjoy this dish, the depth, creaminess, and generous amounts of truffle were an absolute delight. Seared branzino with duck foie gras, 5/5. Loved it. The combination of the flavors was just incredible. The fish was masterfully prepared, extremely crisped skin, huge filet that was flakey, and foie gras melting with every bite was divinity. I will return just for this dish. Soufflé chocolate with honey and lavender ice cream, 5/5. OMG was it good. The souffle was perfect to split for 2, it was the perfect balance of chocolate, air, and richness. The homemade ice cream was out of this world as well, so silky and flavorful. If you are looking for an elevated date night, with superb food and service, this restaurant will deliver. Looking forward to returning. read more

We were excited to try the #9 on Washingtonian's very best. But, unfortunately underwhelmed is the best description for the food and experience. The review was clearly done during the previous chef's reign. The space is beautiful but the food was meh at best. To start don't ask for a zero free cocktail. We were basically told not to veer too far from the cocktail list. My husband ordered the tartare to start and I ordered the lobster salad. He said his starter was fine , and while my lobster salad was plentiful it was nothing out of the ordinary. In fact the green apples on the salad was the probably the star. For our mains we had the duck and branzino. The duck was cut unusually paper thin and over sauced while the fish had so much extra garnishment on top (the bottarga was disgusting and very fishy). We shared the pavlova for dessert which was more like sorbet with heavy fruit sauce. Overall the meal was not at all what we expected for the very large price tag! This is more of a brasserie/cafe than a fine dining restaurant. Le Dip is a much better experience if that is what we wanted. But for a fine dining establishment, it's a fail. read more

Underwhelming, to say the least. We chose to do the chef's 4-course and not one of them was worth a second try. The soup was a borderline cold, and had zero flavor, the fish, literally zero flavor, the potatoes that came with the fish weren't cooked thoroughly, the salad with truffle butter and cheese was delicious, but unfortunately there was a bone or pebble or whatever it was in my lettuce, the baguette was outstanding, which made me question the cleanliness and chose not to finish the only thing that was worth eating, the desert was literally store-bought macaroons with ice cream and walnuts, the tuna tartar was not fishy and not sashimi quality, again, with zero flavor. A small mention also, dinner at 8PM, with below freezing temperatures outside, and the restaurant was freezing! 60 degree on the thermostat. Why? The location is great so we decided to give it a shot, but there are much better French spots in DC, and restaurants in general. read more

Went into this meal very excited due to the Washingtonian ranking and menu but my friends and I left disappointed. The common theme for what we ordered was lack of flavor. I had foie gras to start and while the presentation was great, it really didn't taste like much. When combined with the cherries and sorbet on the plate, I couldn't taste the foie gras at all. Same was true of the steak tartare and tuna tartare that my friends ordered. I had the duck breast as my main and it tasted more like overcooked brisket. A friend has the cassoulet and indicated it was bland. The cocktails, wine, ambiance and service were all great but for being #9 on the Washingtonian Top 100 list, we were all disappointed with the food. read more

L'avant garde was very good. Overall, I'd rate it 5/5; my husband thought it was 4/5. The prices are kind of high, but I was actually pleasantly surprised that our bill wasn't higher by the end. I think the price is work it because the food is very unique. If you want traditional French cooking, this is a more elevated experience. We got the I said enough cocktail (like a buttery, salty espresso martini--delish) and the faux paradis, a tropical rum cocktail. All the cocktails are above $20 so we capped it at one each, which worked well. The meal comes with a nice, rustic French bread and butter imported from France. Overall good. The bouillabaisse with puff pastry was delicious. It was almost so pretty that I didn't want to crack it. The puff pastry is so light and almost dissolves into the seafood broth. Very warm, comforting app, good for 2 to split. I got the Branzino with foie gras, which was spectacular. The size of the Branzino fillet was more than filling, and it came with a delicious broth, mushrooms, tomatoes, and foie gras. I would definitely order that again. My husband got the chicken frites, and the chicken was juicy and flavorful. The fries were very good, basically McDonald's-thin and crispy frites. For dessert, we had to get the large raspberry macaron. This was another item I didn't want to crack into and destroy, but it was worth it. Not too sweet and light enough to finish the meal. We were nicely full after. I was a little worried after reading some reviews that said people left hungry, but that was not our experience. Portions are adequate; not huge American portions but more than filling, and unique concepts. The service was also great. We will definitely be back one day! read more

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Have visited twice and have always been welcomed with warm service. The dishes are fantastic and the cocktails are made well. The duck foie gras beignet and risotto are favorites. Dessert wise it's hard to go wrong with a baba au rhum! Highly recommend for date nights or anniversaries. We look forward to visiting again! read more

The first and last dishes were phenomenal - everything in between was underwhelming. The foie gras in a beignet with a Port reduction sauce was amazing. The chocolate souffle with ice cream was also so good. Crudo, Chateaubriand, and scallops were nothing special. I agree with another reviewer - why would you start the meal with such mediocre bread? Our server was excellent - she kept us on the 2 hour time limit in a gentle and gracious manner. However, the hosts need better training - smile and please don't mumble. The ambiance is nice and I might return to sit at the bar and enjoy the only two dishes I liked again. read more

The service here is great. The food just okay. I was disappointed with my meal and thought they should have put a bit more effort into making the meal memorable. The ambience is wonderful. The sommelier awesome. Now they just need to get the food right. read more

Confused about the positive reviews - the food was extremely underwhelming and overpriced. The service was bad and the staff looked miserable. Bread and plain cold butter to start, just gets worse from there. Save your money and go elsewhere. read more

I've lived in the DC area for 20+ years and it's rare that there's a restaurant that I thoroughly enjoy here. NYC, Philadelphia and so many other cities have far more interesting places. But this was a beautiful experience. Truly one of my favorites in DC... ever. We had Bobby as our server -- he was wonderful... made excellent recommendations and gave us plenty of time to ourselves. We started with the duck fois gras beignet... extremely rich but perfection. Honestly that was my favorite bite of the evening. Our entrees were the chateaubriand and Amish chicken. Both were extraordinary... We both agreed that everything in those dishes was thoughtful. Some of the best chicken of my life... incredible crispy skin. The chateaubriand was cooked perfectly... The pepper crust delightful. For dessert we had the panna cotta... lemony and bright but oh so creamy and the drizzle of olive oil .... Indescribably awesome. For drinks we had the old fashioneds for 2... the Confidence and Saccharine Sunday. I wanted to hug the bartender... amazing cocktails. We both swooned. And perfect lattes to finish. I'm sorry not all Yelpers felt this way about their experience. The criticism of the bread and butter really confuses me.,. The bread is served warm and fresh... The butter is handmade and shipped from France. There is nothing ordinary about it. If I had any criticism... I wish there were easier options for parking (always a challenge in Georgetown). It's a little rushed - you get 2 hours max and then they want you out. And you are right next to other couples... Very little space between you so you can't help but notice each other or even converse. But that's just nitpicking. The atmosphere is gorgeous. Service is lovely. Food delightful and celebratory. We hope to return soon. read more

I had a great meal at L' Avant Garde. I ordered their roasted chicken, it was super juicy and delicious.

The ambiance and greeting could not be nicer -- inside! We made the mistake of booking on the "terrace" (or La Terrasse" as it is listed on the website) and were shown to an unset table outside jutting into M Street with buses and trucks whizzing by. Even though the night was a rare clear and cool Washington summer evening and normally would beg for an outside table, we were happy that they had a table inside for us. (I was seated under a powerful a/c vent and was freezing all night alas.). The prices are among the highest in DC, save for a reasonable bottle of Bordeaux, and that would be OK if the food justified it. But the food disappointed overall. The green salad was delightful. The Bouillabaisse was a mess. Way too much saffron and garlic, and the lobster and mussels were way overcooked and tough. The piece of branzino was the saving grace -- delicious. The vegetarian plate looked hopeful (leeks wrapped in nori) but the leeks weren't seasoned at all and the nori was too thick and tough. The person in our party who ordered the chicken rated it highly. Given our poor overall experience with the mains, we skipped dessert. The service was gracious and efficient. We had high hopes for the place but they were not fulfilled. We are unlikely to return. read more

First time, last time for me. Bread was ok, ask for more butter was charge 5 bucks. Foie gras beignet had a small amount of duck and dough was not sweet. Sweetbreads had an Oder that they were not soak enough to get the smell out. Chateaubrien was good and correctly cooked. Fries were over salted. Octopus was good but only 7 small bites. 2 glasses of wine. Total 320.00 with tip. read more

Divine from door to dessert!!! Great location and a lovely, intimate vibe inside. The staff are really attentive and so very professional. Samantha, their ever charming sommelier, was a superb guide throughout. And then there's the food!!! We took friends for a milestone birthday celebration last night and we were all just dazzled by our dining experience! Chef Gilles Epie is simply masterful and even came by our table to wish our friend a happy birthday--such a class act! His amuse bouche of a red pepper mousse was unexpected and wonderful. And then we had the cured salmon with the potato & carrot slices with juniper berries that was just sublime. Even the green salad was special and actually an incredible presentation--I mean when do you hear that?! Our entrées (poulet rôti, the branzino, & the turbot) were each perfectly cooked and presented. And the piping hot, crisp yet tender side of pommes frites was oh mon dieu! The raspberry macaron with vanilla mascarpone cream and the butter salted caramel soufflé were both ahhhhhhmazing. If you enjoy fine dining and a sophisticated night out, L'Avant Garde should be at the top of your list! read more

I sometimes wonder if people like Siestema and the Washingtonian's reviewers have lost their marbles eating so much bad food in restaurants, or if a smart chef recognizes them and cooks extra well when they show up. Simply can't believe the glowing reviews this place has received. This is a terrible place for the price. Super expensive, and the food is something that would be OK if served in a friend's home (though most of my friends make much more tasty food), but it is just not worth it when they charge so much. I left half of what I ordered on my plate. And they are extremely climate unfriendly - flying all their seafood via FedEx from Paris (a fact that was mentioned three times during the meal service). Furthermore, our server was condescending and inattentive. If you want good Bistro style French food and a nice atmosphere in DC go to Le Diplomate, Convivial etc. DC still does not have a high-end French place that is worth the price. read more

L'Avant Garde is a French style restaurant, but perhaps tries too hard, and does not have a menu that really reflects real French cuisine. The menu is in both French and English, but that's where the authenticity tapers off. The food here is actually pretty good, but it just isn't that French. As an example, we ordered the chateau briand, which should have been a long roast, cut from the tenderloin (the same spot as the filet) and typically served with a demi-glace. Instead, their "chateau briand" is a regular filet you could get at any steak place. To add insult to injury, it came out medium well at best (we ordered med rare) and the waitress tried to tell us that it looked that way because it was dry aged. More like dried out.. in an oven. Once they refired the steak, it was actually pretty good - but still nothing like a chateau briand which should be a roast. The other fairly non French food here was all ok - and ambiance was actually pretty good, but the wine list was pretty limited in the French department given their attempted theme. This could be a decent restaurant, but they need to drop the French act and be themselves. read more