My visit over a decade ago left memories of a rather stuffy place, lots of unusual French meats that I couldn't eat. Fast forward to (new ownership) and my recent visit: it still has the calf's brain and intestines, but the food I got exceeded my expectations (set in part by reading some rather poor reviews). Perhaps it was because I stuck to the house specialities. The carrot soup was warm and creamy with a taste of lemongrass. The quenelles de brochet were fluffy, light pike-egg mixtures in a decadent but small dish of lobster sauce. Husband liked his escalopines de veau. A highlight was the soufflé - I didn't know you could get this in DC! It requires a 20 minute advance (so, with dinner) order. The Grand Marnier was subtle, but the crème anglaise served on the side was a nice touch. As you can see from the photos it turned out perfectly. Dishes were almost on par with what I had in France (though pricier). Service could have been a bit more French - quick plate removal, and rushed check delivery gave us the impression we had to wrap up our dinner. Yet overall, this has a very old european flair, which I think is what it goes for, so I say, bon boulot! NB: Apparently this is the go-to place of the Argentine ambassador for their Foie de Veau. read more

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First time dining here and it was amazing!!! I went after DC lifted all restrictions for indoor dining. It was a bit unnerving in the beginning but immediately forgot about and settled into the beautiful experience. The menu was just mouthwatering. The dishes we chose were beautifully prepared and so delicious! The wines were smooth and perfectly went with our meals. The souffle!!!! My first time eating one and what a great experience. I want to come back to try more dishes. The ambiance was relaxed and comfortable, not at all pretentious. The restaurant is cozy and dimly lit. Service was impeccable from beginning to end. I can't wait to come back! read more

La Chaumiere is great for a special event or a lover of good French food. All of the meat cuts are cooked perfectly and taste and the appetizers are plentiful and authentic. The wait staff are a little stiff but the meal makes up for it. Better food than le diplomat read more

Food/service: Can't say since I didn't eat my meal. Ordered the duck, medium well, but got something closer to rare. Full disclosure, my two friends totally enjoyed their entrées. Since no one bothered to check on us throughout dinner, our waiter wasn't even aware that I had not eaten. Took us 45 minutes to get some water on our table. When the waiter did appear, it struck us as strange that he, Peter, I believe, told us we had to place our order for all three courses at the same time. The birthday cake and candle that were requested never came. We than asked when can we expect the cake since by this time my friends had finished eating. The waiter seemed perplexed and had no idea what my sister was speaking about. She then explained to him that it's her husband's birthday and she requested some kinda of cake with candles. He left and returned with a single candle, standing in the center of a small plate. At this point she said nothing and proceeded to take the candle and place it on top of the cake so we can sing happy birthday! No one would expect someone working at such a fine dining, dress code, establishment to be so classless! From start to finish the entire experience was much to be desired. My suggestion to black people, DON'T!! Please find somewhere else to dine, especially if it's a special occasion. read more

La Chaumiere - Duck Breast - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This is a nice place. Very expensive but nice none the less! My husband and I went there for dinner. We had a gift card and it just about covered the cocktails & wine. I would recommend this place to my friends. Order the escargot, they are very tasty ! Have a good time but make sure you got plenty of money ! read more

Yet another superb dining experience from the gang at La Chaumiere! The atmosphere of this establishment is fantastic. To enjoy a festive meal at this restaurant is simply the best. The wines, the appetizers, the service and excellent food is second to none. Do yourself a favor and let this evening dining choice satisfy you to the max. read more

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We had dinner today at Le Chaumiere for our anniversary. The ambiance is wonderful. The place is clean. The food was excellent. The service was spectacular. I highly recommend this place! read more

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The food is great! No doubts about it! But the service is the worst! We have been doing carry-out all the time during Covid. The owner, Martine, is the most rude person you will have the experience to deal with! My husband has been going there for 40 years, from the 80's. Its his favorite place to be. Patrick Orange(former Chef) was the nicest person. When we called in to place an order, there was a long wait time. So we said, we'll call back! He hung up without an Okay! On asking about gluten free, he snubbed us. He stooped to such a low level, that he called us after picking up the food, to confront us as to why we complained to his employees! He was literally yelling! If you want to be humiliated, this is the place to be! read more

Now that Martin has left, it is the end of an era...La Chaumiere was simply wonderful. It's lost its authentic touch, as I don't think there is one actual French person on site, certainly not the chef. Sad. read more

If you have not been to La Chaumiere GO! If you have been - GO AGAIN. This long standing Georgetown restaurant is fabulous. The inside takes you to France. The food is wonderful.The staff is wonderful. You feel special the moment you step into the restaurant. Love Love Love La Chaumiere! read more

Excellent food! Great ambiance. We enjoyed our meal. Very impressed with how they brought all the dishes for us at once (9 people). No one had to wait for the others to get their food. The deserts were excellent. The service was good. No complaints here. Our large group was there for a business dinner. Everyone left happy. We will be back. read more

La Chaumiere is a reliable place to bring almost anyone with a consistently good menu and casual feel. We had venison medallions in a burgundy sauce which were excellent. Wine list has some decent reasonably wines as well as much more expensive bottles. read more

This restaurant has been around since forever and I used to live nearby, but somehow I had never eaten there before. A friend suggested it. She is a regular and I can understand why. The atmosphere is very authentic. I had the veal chop and my friend had rack of lamb. I probably shouldn't have ordered such a heavy dish, but I really enjoyed the lamb and especially the mushrooms that came with it. My friend enjoyed her lamb a lot as well. The waiter seemed to have a lot on his plate. That's not to say that the service was bad or slow; it was fine. But he was in constant motion. I had the sense that they might have been short-handed. I will definitely return. read more

La Chaumiere is classic French. It is fantastic. Our timing was for an early dinner yet it was completely full by the time we left at 8 pm. We were in very capable hands with our waiter, Rene. The food was delightful... chilled carrot ginger soup, lobster bisque, veal chop, venison, asparagus and apple tart. Absolutely delicious. Look forward to going back. read more

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This is wining and dining! Stepping into La Chaumière feels like stepping back onto the Continent, feet or seat first in a charming French country inn, complete with old timber beams across the ceiling. The food is pretty traditional French and the waiters are on point with their service. The upstairs room used for private functions is a bit sterile with institutional office-like ceilings and reminded me more of a grandma's retirement home than the French countryside. I love escargot, especially with pesto, garlic and butter. Unfortunately this came overcooked, almost burnt as if it was torched, and consequently the escargot was tough. Luckily La Chaumière immediately redeemed with my entrée Carré d'Agneau Rôti. The rack of lamb cooked to medium rare was simply phenomenal. Perfectly seasoned. I fear I'll just keep reordering this dish whenever I return to La Chaumière. See my "This rack is Yelp-worthy!!" photo. My Pavlov instinct is kicking in while I type this review. Also phenomenal and the epitome of perfection was Soufflé au Chocolat. So light, fluffy, moist and delicious! Probably my most favorite dessert in years. Next time I'll go for the Grand Marnier Soufflé. The wine list is outstanding with a top selection of French and California wines. We had an excellent Louis Jadot Pernand-Vergelesse, "La Croix Blanche" Chardonnay 2010. While my favorite obscure wine (Wild Hog Pinot Noir "Sara Lee Vineyard" Russian River, CA) was found on their list, the group went whole French hog for the Châteauneuf-du-Pape, "Secrets de Pignan" Vieilles Vignes 2009 magnum. Tastebuds were dizzying in heaven. La Chaumière is definitely worth a bookmark and journey to Georgetown the next time you are in Washington DC. read more

La Chaumiere - This rack is yelp-worthy!! - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The weather in DC this October is a true gift. Knowing what's around the corner for us temperature-wise, we've been trying to enjoy being outside as much as we can. Long walks around town with our pup are now almost a nightly thing with last Thursday being no different - we slowly wandered around Georgetown, ending up on M around 8pm, looking for a restaurant with a patio to accommodate us and our furbaby. While we were not looking for anything in particular, we ended up opting for La Chaumiere's outside area simply due to the fact that it looked cozy and comfortable and further away from the road compared to other patios on this street. We were greeted immediately by a smartly-suited gentleman who was so incredibly welcoming and unassuming, he alone created this feeling of comfort for the three of us that lasted throughout our visit. Our pup got her water and was checked on as much as we were, how incredibly accommodating is that? We ordered cheese soufflé for an appetizer, for mains my companion ordered Venison medallions and I - a calf liver with mash, both delightfully delicious. I love the simplicity of a French plate, where a protein is a star, with one simple side, both enveloped in a delectable sauce. Three ingredients highlighting each other brilliantly. The menu is updated daily, so you know you're getting the freshest, most delicious product on your plate. For desert we had a chocolate soufflé, and it was tres incroyable! I am yet to discover their inside décor or wine list, so that warrants for a return in near future, sans my dog, please don't ever tell her that I go places without her, she'll be heartbroken. read more

La Chaumiere - Cheese Souffle - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I'd been very excited to try this restaurant, and man, what a disappointment. The evening started off well enough. I'd never been inside, and when we stepped in it felt like we were stepping into a small, charming country inn. The atmosphere is lovely, especially with the large stone fireplace in the middle. We were greeted at the host stand, the host offered to take our coats (we declined, decided to keep them) and led us to a small, lovely table near the fireplace. Note: the tables are really close together. The restaurant was fairly empty when we entered around 7pm, but by 8pm it was pretty packed, and it was a Wednesday! Warm bread appeared shortly after and we started to peruse the menu. I decided to order the lobster bisque and the duck with currant sauce with a glass of Pinot Noir, and my husband ordered the onion soup and the salmon baked in a puff pastry. The wine came shortly and was a nice temperature, which I appreciated (sometimes wines by the glass are too warm - the temperature of the restaurant). Soon after, our soups arrived and this is where things began to go downhill. My lobster bisque should have been called lobster broth. There were zero pieces of lobster. ZERO. However, reading up a bit later and doing my research, I realize this may be common practice in French restaurants. Ok...that's fine. My husband's onion soup had a bit of an odd taste to it that wasn't typical of onion soups he'd had in the past, but it had a nice cheese crust. Our entrees arrived a little bit later and the disappointment for me continued. My duck, while a huge portion, was cooked unevenly (some pieces were a nice medium rare to medium but others were overcooked) and it was INCREDIBLY gamey. I ate about three bites and left the rest. Hugely disappointing. My husband's meal was better, but not great. The puff pastry was well-prepared but his salmon tasted fishy (typical of farm-raised salmon as another reviewer pointed out). Service was fine, we experienced no issues and it was timely without being hovering. I read some other reviews and I can say we didn't experience any of the service issues that others did. But overall, I was just incredibly disappointed by the food. I really did love the space, but the food was a big letdown. I don't think I'd return. read more

La Chaumiere - Salmon in puff pastry - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I have never had such a negative and disrespectful experience at a restaurant before in my life. I would not recommend this restaurant to ANYONE. My sister and I walked in, where the host and manager (both men; one was Martin Lumet) blatantly looked at us (both females) up and down repeatedly, clearly disapproving of our our outfits. A pair of men should NEVER feel they have the right to look at a 24 and 22 year old woman that way. But, we gave them the benefit of the doubt and decided to stay. After we ordered (two salads and a soufle), Martin Lumet came over and told us our order did not qualify as a meal - and that if we stayed, we would have to pay for the (2 dollar) bread. It was clear he wanted us to leave, and we were too uncomfortable to stay at that point - so we left. Upon exiting, Martin Lumet FOLLOWED US OUTSIDE and said: "Did you have something else you wanted to say to me?" I told him it was disrespectful and rude how he and his team member looked at us and handled the situation. He then blamed it on the fact that it was "graduation weekend" - further confirming to us that his behavior was based on the fact that he didn't like the way we looked. Martin Lumet and the other host clearly judged us based on our appearance, and then did what they did...if the owner ever reads this let me just say - it was a BADD look for your restaurant.... read more

Food was laughably bad for this price point. Was bland and lacked flavor. Rack of lamb was very disappointing with a soggy coating. No joke the chef didn't put a single bit of salt on the venison, was devoid of flavor, and the sides could've been made in a cafeteria. For desert the apple tart was quite good actually. For a restaurant that supposedly received a Michelin star it was a joke. read more

Located in Georgetown, this restaurant serve traditional French food. Cozy atmosphere and not too noisy. Great food and excellent service. Compared with the quality of the food, the price is reasonable. read more

Not sure where all the comments regarding the poor service or rude staff are coming from. We went this weekend and had an amazing experience. The restaurant itself is beautiful, cozy and rustic with a warm fireplace in the middle. The service was wonderful with pleasant and attentive wait staff. And the food was absolutely incredible- escargot, lamb shank, and my favorite the venison medallions. The apple tart was just as wonderful and we can't wait to go back. read more

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Last night I decided to celebrate a Christmas diner with my daughters before seeing Wicked . Everyone in the restaurant was so accommodating friendly and joyful with our short time before going to the Kennedy Center . The Escargots,mushroom soup were excellent and diner to die for I had veal scaloppini , daughters had beef,scallops and veal chops and for the last chocolate soufflé . I believe we found the place to celebrate Christmas every year . A Jewel in Georgetown . read more

This spot keeps getting better and better! It's nice to see such an eclectic mix of people enjoying truly delicious French food in Washington DC. The new chef is absolutely amazing I am really it's at home. So nice to see you young crowd and a fine restaurant like this for a change. I can't wait to return read more

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Always a perfect place for a fancy outing. I was especially impressed with the overall service, as well as the level of professionalism in the establishment; this seems to have been a factor in the change in ownership in my opinion. The food alone was enough to seal the deal as well. The lobster bisque was exceptional, followed by an incredible Steak Au Poivre, and a wonderful Chocolate Soufflé to top it off. Needless to say this is an outstanding place, and the new owner is really committed to creating a great experience, cheers! read more

This restaurant has a new owner. Do not be misled by decent reviews from the past. This place has gone down hill. The food is subpar and will come out cold, yet burned. If you are a vegetarian, the chef will refuse to put together a reasonable vegetarian option. When the problem was brought to the attention of the owner he could not have cared less. read more

Georgetown is a hike for us and the parking situation is often a further deterrent, however, the souffles and quenelle at La Chaumier are totally worth the extra travel effort. What we love about La Chaumier is the rustic dishes that you do not see on other French menus in the area, such as braised tripe (tender and delicious) and quenelle (heavenly). The tables at La Chaumier are so tight that we feel like we're dining in Paris. For U.S. standards, it may feel uncomfortable but we consider it part of the charm of the restaurant. Overall, this is a great restaurant serving well prepared rustic French dishes. Order the souffles. All of them. Yes, the cheese, Grand Marnier, and chocolate. And the quenelle. You're welcome. read more

Loved the place before the pandemic. Came back for Restaurant Week and we won't be back. For $150 we could have ordered off the regular menu, received normal portions sizes and maybe better service. Host was rude and service was slow and inattentive. Too bad so sad! read more

We went there yesterday, service and food have high quality I love it!! Be there at the direct time, hostess is panctual. read more

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My husband and I went there for Valentine's Day. I ordered a medium-well steak and my husband ordered medium-rare tuna steak but both was almost well-done and was very tough to chew. We wanted to ask to send it back but our waiter was nowhere to find...Tables were too close to each other and I couldn't get out without asking the gentleman sitting next to our table to move his chair. The lobster salad was very good though. They were definitely under-staffed. Very poor management. We won't be coming back here. read more

David, the front desk attendant and restaurant manager both were rude, abrupt and unprofessional unwilling to accommodate my family and me for dinner. David hung up the phone on me and he showed up to me as if I was a burden and an inconvenience. Other reviewers/prospective clients please consider this review as serious and be aware of management at this restaurant. Management good luck and work on your customer service and people skills need much improvement and training your staff to have the basic knowledge of how to properly provide appropriate morals, people's skills and professionalism is essential to run a successful restaurant. read more

I was a regular here until just before COVID. My last experience then and last night confirmed why I regret to say do not waste your time or money. Service was awful.I tried to catch his attention four times. Never looked our way. Soup was cool, no hot. The entree was tepid but tasty, not excellent. The red wine was served in a white wine glass. I returned to ty it on more time because I liked the ambience. But you can't eat ambience. I sent a comment to the restaurant after returning home. What I received was a snotty, petulant, self serving reply. It was all about what I should have done. At the end the proprietor ask whether I said something on the way out. I did not because no one was at the entrance. Why deal with an unkind man and a bad meal? Go up Wisconsin to Bistrot Lepic or La Piquette on Newark Street.They are fine places where they treat you well in food and attitude. read more

At 9:00 pm we were leaving a Blues Alley. We thought it would be a good idea to have a soufflé. I looked at OpenTable. There was a table ready for 9:15 pm. Clearly an available last min table. We booked it. Walked in. Sat down and tried to order a soufflé and the manager came over and said we had to order dinner. I said - we have already had dinner. This table was open 15 mins ago. No business. And he said we had to order entrees. Very rude. Table next to us was also free. Clearly not crawling with people waiting to have dinner here. So we got up and left. Unbelievable. Rude and we will NOT be back. They lost business on a table that would have had $0. Anyway - didn't miss much anyway. Place is very small and very stuffy. Good luck. read more

Recently went to La Chaumière for a reception dinner after two friends eloped in DC. As a private party, we went for the prix frixe menu, so most of us ended getting similar items. Ambience: The wooden beams jutting from the walls give the appearance of an old European cottage. Next to our table was a window, behind which sat a painting of cows grazing in the French countryside. The whole ambiance almost gave us the feeling of eating in an old French country home... almost. Service: The waitstaff was friendly and really only came around for drink and food orders - not what I usually prefer, but it is true to the European dining out experience. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and say that's what they were going for. They graciously split the check ten different ways (it was all a bit expensive) which, as a former waiter, I know can sometimes be a hassle. Wine: The Beaujalais was fine, but overrated. The real star of the night was the FOOD. My girlfriend and I made sure to get different items for each course so we could sample the variety. First, bread. YES, I'm actually commenting on the bread. So few places have good bread to nosh on, but this was great. The outside was perfectly crusty without being too chewy or hard while the inside remained very light and fluffy. However, the soft inside made spreading the cold butter a chore. I opted for the Caesar salad and my girlfriend for the cream of vegetable soup. The soup was delicious and rich, however, I think it'd be too much if I tried to eat the whole thing. I worried that the salad would have an anchovy sitting atop waiting for me to bite into a fishy salad. Fortunately no. The dressing tasted legit. I could taste the right amount of the anchovy in the dressing without feeling overpowered. Well done there. Main course - Girlfriend got salmon en croûte - meh, okay. It had the fishy taste that is common to farmed Atlantic salmon. Fortunately, puff pastry always tastes good. As for me, I had the beef tenderloin medallions with red wine sauce. KILLER. The beef was tender and not overcooked as a such a lean cut is wont to be. The accompanying vegetables seemed an afterthought on the plate, but the garlic in the mashed potatoes had me sold. Dessert - I got my favorite, crème brûlée, while my girlfriend got the chocolate mousse. The crème brûlée was good, but I've definitely had better. It was surprisingly too sweet; I had been expecting less sugar and more emphasis on the cream and vanilla. Oh well. The mousse... the mousse!!!! (note to self: be careful not to type "mouse" when reviewing food) It was very rich and quite chocolaty. A spoonful was enough for me. One of the other guests, though she loved it, had to put it aside after finishing only half as it was too rich for her. Chocolate lovers, do you dare accept the challenge? I probably would never have come here were it not for a wedding. I'm glad I got to experience the great foods offered at La Chaumière. If you fancy a... well, FANCY date (anniversary, wedding reception, desperate first date with a 1%er), then this is a good place to go. Most of us probably can't carry the price tag any more often than that. Cheers! read more

La Chaumiere - Chocolate mousse - very good, very rich - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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My experience is the following: I was a guest at the home of a friend of mine. It was a small gathering of close friends and we had chosen La Chaumiere as the cuisine for the evening. Due to Covid we decided to place a "phone take out" order. We were given contradictory instructions on how to place it. Their instructions were faulty. The restaurant refused to take our order. This is the first review I have ever written. I feel obliged to do so from a financial point of view. There are many fine French restaurants in DC, (Le Diplomat, Chez Billy Sud, 1789, etc). La Chaumiere is not one of them. It is expensive and the latter are more indicative of a real "French Cuisine" with much finer service. read more

Really the only classic French restaurant remaining in the DC area amid lots of bistro-style places. Although the number of specials seem to have been trimmed, you can always count on some of the classics of French cuisine to be found nowhere else. The problem is trying to choose among so many dishes available nowhere else (quenelles, sweetbreads). Decent wine list of French and American wines, although a selection of half bottles would be welcome. Competent, attentive service. When we asked for a delay in delivering our pre-ordered souffles to allow us to finish our wine, our request was readily accommodated. Every time we visit, we are reminded that we need to return more often. read more

We had a party of 12 last night and everything was fabulous. The owner of the restaurant couldn't be more accommodating. The waiter, Pete, was terrific. Everyone enjoyed their food to the fullest besides it being delicious. We can't wait to come back again soon. read more

Went there Valentine's Day 2022. The food was pretty good. Service was the worst ever for the value. Spent the entire time while eating rubber-necking searching for any waiter. Water glass was filled only once just before leaving, and never received a coffee refill. Under-staffed, and the existing staff poorly managed. Tables packed extremely too close together. Poor face covering (COVID-19) mandate protocols. Horrible parking! read more

This is a place to go on a nice romantic dinner but they have a second floor for larger parties - I was there with 12 - I had the steak and it was sublime. You have to preorder dessert - I tasted the apple tart and that was very good - the soufflé was just okay - doesn't match the quality of the entree in my opinion. The French onion soup was tasty - probably four stars which is what I would give them overall. read more

First and foremost the waiter Rene here is the man. Such a good waiter and attentive. I've gone to other French Restaurants that make you wait 6 hours and cause your gluts to hurt. Not this place same great French food and quick but quality service. But the best part is the souffles. I am hooked to them. While they weren't the best in the world I would give them top 5 souffles! And the foix grois WAS the best ever!! read more

La Chaumiere is simply excellent. After at least 30 dinners, I'm finally writing a review. The service is super attentive, humble and sophisticated. The waiters know the food, the wine and the spirits. They are flexible. Always willing to ask for something not on the menu (usually for my wife, sometimes for me:). And the food. The onion soup, the trout, the steak frites, the shad roe. Actually I've never had something not good. I love this restaurant. read more