Our server cole was great and super kind, food was amazing! Definitely will come back!

Great food and excellent service. Cole was extremely attentive and very helpful. The lamb chops and Bourguignon were well prepared and delicious read more

Amazing place, great food, and even better service! Cole made our evening special! Thank you so much for the wonderful ambiance. A real treat after a long week. read more

I made a lunch reservation for a Friday during French Restaurant Week and thoroughly enjoyed our meal and the ambiance. First and foremost, the space is gorgeous! High coffered ceilings, rich wall coverings, art nouveau posters, Accessibility may be a little confusing -- there is a long set of stairs at the entrance, but there is an elevator outside and through a neighboring door. There are other elevators to take guests up to the mezzanine level. Food was flavorful and well portioned. While I may have had a better entree somewhere else, we had amazing service (granted we were some of the first ones there for lunch service) and when my dining companion didn't like her cocktail it was whisked away and replaced with something she'd enjoy better. The prix fixe menu made our lunch very financially approachable and I think this would be an amazing spot to bring your out of town family and friends. I also think it's worth mentioning the gorgeous gender inclusive bathroom -- one large bathroom enclosing many stalls each with substantial full length wooden doors, and communal sinks and mirrors. Maybe not a spot for neighborhood regulars, but a nice destination for a fun evening out for a date or out of the way dinner. read more

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Would love to start my review by saying many thanks to manager Michael, our most amazing server Revo for saving our anniversary dinner. I originally booked Omakase room by Tadayoshi for August 15th dinner at 5:30. To my shock it turned out Omakase room is closed that day but my reservation was still active and I confirmed it as well the day before. My husband wanted to try this Omakase place for a while and I thought the day was perfect for it. Unfortunately, the restaurant was closed and I was taken by surprise as I didn't have any alternative plans or reservations. We first spoke with General manager at Boucherie and she kindly offered us to take a look at the menu and see if we wanted to dine there instead. I was very upset that the planned and anticipated reservation didn't work out. I said yes at first because I didn't know what else to do but we got an amazing server Revo who lightened the mood and Manager Michael was very kind to us and understanding. While dinner started not on a great note, it ended up the best outcome we could have had. Everyone we interacted with was kind and great. I would love to come back again but now specifically for Boucherie and in a much better mood. I totally understand that reservation issue is not Boucherie's responsibility and I still don't know how this all happened. But we hey made our anniversary dinner a fanatic experience. Many thanks to them and also to the sommelier. Wine list was great and we received great recommendations. Thank you, Boucherie team for everything, I was ready to start crying at the omakase room after seeing it was closed but now I will be back specifically for you and the great food. Beef bourgonion was the best I have ever had. read more

This was such an odd dining experience; I think I had a good time but it was so strange. My husband and I happened upon La Grande Boucherie after we were deterred from our original dinner plans. We arrived at 7:45 on a Saturday night to see if there was room for two or at least room at the bar. I wish the hostess had told us that we could wait at the bar for a table to open up, as we saw that's what many other patrons did, but she told us there was bar seating and high tops and so my husband and I went on up. We easily had our choice of two seats at the bar or a high top, and we selected a high top. After 5 minutes of no one acknowledging us, my husband and I told each other we would wait two more minutes before we would bail. Right as we were about to jump ship, a server came by and asked if we wanted menus. We said sure but it was just strange that no one greeted us, it was just "you want menus?" Lol. Another server brought us menus and asked if we would like water and a breadbasket. We said yes and after about 15 minutes, bread arrived. We chatted with the server about what drinks we should order; I ordered a French 75 and my husband ordered a special Sazerac. We also ordered the tuna carpoacio. After about 10 minutes, the server came back and to confirm if I wanted the soft side cocktail and if my husband wanted an old fashioned. We said we did not and corrected him. Then, a server tried to give our drinks to the table next to us and our server corrected him and brought steak tartare. And then he goes "oh wait, did you order this?" We said no and he asked if we wanted it because if not he had to throw it away lol. And then 5 seconds later, the tuna came. Both the tuna carpaccio and the steak tartare were delicious. But this was the entire evening: we ordered something, something else came. I ordered a glass of sparkling rose, and an espresso martini appeared on the house. We had to ask for our bill twice and when we got our bill, it was definitely someone else's. Finally, as we were preparing to go, the original server comes back and goes "here's your espresso martini." Like bro we asked you originally for the check and we are clearly leaving. Luckily, my husband and I had plenty of time before our show, it was a great atmosphere, and the food was super delicious. It was just such a comically bizarre experience and I feel like they are definitely losing money. I think we paid for half of what we ate and drank and probably ate and drank other people's food! Maybe we will go back? Maybe not lol read more

La Grande Boucherie is a beautiful establishment, one of the grandest in the city if not the grandest in terms of size, ambience, all of that. We had a great experience as the service was excellent and attentive. Our waitress, Sou Sou, was kind, helpful, and had lots of good suggestions. Only complaint, which likely wasn't her fault, is the dessert took a while to come out so we ended up spending longer at dinner than we'd hoped. To start we ordered the escargot and French onion soup, which we enjoyed with delicious bread. Pretty standard but on the pricy side compared to other options in the city. For mains we got steak frites and the wagyu burger. The steak was well crusted, seasoned, and cooked to a nice medium rare, but the knife could've been sharper, was struggling to cut it haha. Small detail. The wagyu burger was a bit disappointing, as the bottom bun was burnt -- we like it toasted but you could taste the char -- and it also got very soggy quickly and didn't hold well. The flavors were there though, and the fries and sauces were all good. For dessert, the basque cheesecake was delicious and the profiteroles were a bit harder than others we've had and underwhelming, but ice cream and chocolate sauce is always a saving grace. Overall, DC has a ton of good food including great French places that may be a better bang for your buck. But La Grande Boucherie is a great spot to impress a date, client, etc. if you're looking for a high end night out, and enjoy a nice steak / French cuisine. read more

My friend recommended this for a nice dinner so we decided to stop by for dinner on a Friday evening. It was very easy to get a reservation, but once we arrived we waited at the top of the stairs without acknowledgment for five minutes. After being seated the service only went downhill ): They didn't really greet us or make recommendations and took a long time to come back to take our order. We decided on the French onion soup, Cesar salad, steak frites, and lamp chops. The soup was good, the salad very average and would not recommend, steak was cooked well, but very chewy and the fries were limp. My partner enjoyed the lamp chops, but not the vegetable side it came with. There was also no sauce on the steak frites and the server didn't make us aware of that. He also didn't check in at all throughout our meal to see if we needed anything. At this price point I would expect a better experience. For the price point and the food offerings I would not recommend and I was disappointed with the experience. read more

La Grande Boucherie - Steak frites - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I started with a cocktail, and the server suggested La Vie en Rose as the most popular one to try. It was a bit too sweet for me, and the lycheee puree almost took over the spirits. I enjoyed the second cocktail, Softside, much more as it was not too sweet. Poulet roti was wonderful, but the pommes purée was almost in existent at the bottom of the plate; the vegetables definitely took it over as a garnish. The chicken portion was very generous, but the sauce rather plain. I enjoyed my tenderloin. Escargots were great. Drowned in butter, as they should be. My companion could taste the garlic as a prominent flavor but I couldn't and I wished they were a bit saltier. The escargots were not worth the $29. The beef tartare was decent but again, not worth the $24. I dined at another brasserie restaurant the night before and the mere price difference but comparable quality of food at both establishments is why this is a four-star review for me. Yes, you can eat at this quality of a French dining experience for much less somewhere else (and try more cocktails and shareables as well). Profiteroles as a dessert were just alright, we both agreed we would get something else next time, it's just ice cream on a decent pastry. read more

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This restaurant is absolutely beautiful and makes you feel like you're in another place. The service was wonderful. We got the burger, Mac n cheese, and onion soup. The burger was absolutely phenomenal and in the running for best burger in DC. The soup was blah - it lacked flavor in my opinion and the cheese was just rubbery. The Mac n cheese had an insane gooey cheese pull that was the chefs kiss but needed something to give the flavor some help. read more

La Grande Boucherie - Onion Soup, Burger, Mac n Cheese - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The place is beautiful! It does not feel like the focus is on the food. It's become very social media friendly for it's beautiful as aesthetic. I think going here for drinks is perfectly sufficient, but if you're looking for food to match this five star decor adjust your expectations. We knew that going in and had a great time. The prices also reflect the fact that the food is good, not great, so that's very appreciated. We went very French authentic, getting the foie gras and pâté. This was a few months ago, so I don't remember the main course. But the evening was unforgettable. Definitely recommend everyone goes at least once. read more

Shoutout to my friend for putting me on to this spot! I had no idea about La Grande Boucherie DC's happy hour. They have so many cool options for drinks on the happy hour menu. I also noticed they serve oysters; I didn't get a chance to try them this time, but I definitely will next time. The service was awesome (thanks Ben), and I completely fell in love with the stunning decor and lively vibe. I will absolutely be back! read more

Why is this place so great?! Literally can't go wrong. I love their food service and the smiles that it always brings read more

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We came here to celebrate my friend's birthday on what was honestly a perfect day in Washington, DC--the kind that screams day drinking and rooftop hopping. But no, we chose dinner. Fine. Let's get into it. First impressions? The place is beautiful. Big, polished, definitely giving upscale steakhouse. It was packed--which, given the weather, was expected. Now I will absolutely give credit where it is due: the service was on point. Our main server had a whole system behind him--water guy (my glass never even thought about being empty), plus two food runners. It ran like a well-oiled machine. Smooth, efficient, no complaints there. Alright... now let's get to what you actually came here for: the food. Drumroll please... No. Not terrible. Not amazing. Just... okay. And for these prices? "Okay" is not good enough. It's not even about it being expensive--I expect that at a steakhouse. The issue is the price does not match the taste. I have had better meals for significantly less, and that is the problem. Drinks? Expensive--but it is a steakhouse, so expected. The wine selection, however? Underwhelming. Very limited for a place charging like this. There were nine of us and the bill came out to about $1,500. So yes, expectations were high--and justified. Now let's talk about the birthday moment, because this is where it went completely off the rails. My friend wanted crème brûlée for her birthday dessert. Simple. The waiter smiles and says, "No, you get ice cream." ...Okay. Weird, but fine. We assume that means the ice cream is the complimentary birthday dessert. Still a little sting--because if someone wants crème brûlée, let them have crème brûlée--but whatever. Then the bill comes. They charged us for it. The audacity. So not only did you override the birthday girl's request, but you also charged us for the replacement nobody asked for? And to add insult to injury, that pistachio ice cream was easily the worst thing we had all night. And that is saying something. Overall: beautiful space, great service, but the food does not justify the price, and the birthday experience? Completely fumbled. For $1,500, I expect to leave impressed. We left confused, underwhelmed, and side-eyeing that receipt. read more

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We visited La Grande Boucherie with my family and made a reservation about two days in advance. When we arrived, we were initially seated on the second floor, which wasn't very convenient for my parents. Although they offered us the elevator, it was located on the opposite side of the restaurant, making it a bit difficult. I asked if it would be possible to move to the first floor, and they kindly accommodated our request, which we really appreciated. The food was absolutely delicious, and the drinks were just as good. The portions are quite generous, so if you're not a big eater, you may want to consider sharing a dish. One thing to note is that the restrooms are gender-neutral. While they were very clean, I found this a little inconvenient when visiting with children. If you plan to go on a weekend, expect the restaurant to be lively and a bit noisy. Also, avoid the parking lot next door if possible--it was very chaotic and not worth the hassle. Overall, we had a wonderful dining experience with excellent food, great drinks, and friendly service. I'd definitely recommend it, especially if you enjoy French cuisine. read more

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Amazing! Gorgeous! Classy! Professionals working with honor. This place wow'd me. You can come dressy or casual and you'll fit in either way. However, going in business casual+ will make you "feel" comfortable. This place is perfect for date night, a girlfriend meet-up, or a celebratory group of 6 or less (in my opinion). The elegant decor matches the taste of all the dishes and the mastery of the drinks will leave you speechless. The rose drink (vodka lychee and cranberry) will have you asking for a 2nd and a 3rd!! Good music playing while dining. Live Jazz on Thursday evenings. 2 bars inside. 1 on main level and the other on the balcony. NOTE: Balcony dining (3rd floor) is the best, as it over looks the entire restaurant, however there is not an elevator for guests. TIDBIT: bathrooms are on only on main level. (Main level is the 2nd floor) Reservations were not needed on a Sunday (early afternoon), but I would suggest you make one even if you're within 30 mins. Garage parking next door, or on L street (6 mins away) OH! Can't forget to mention the unisex wash closets. Don't be shocked to see a male in the wash closet . Each person has their own stall but will then share a common sink. read more

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I have been eager to dine here for months, but kept getting thwarted by weather, illness, poor planning. It was definitely worth the wait! I took my family here for Easter dinner and it was divine. Starting with the setting: it's no wonder everyone takes tons of photos here because the dining room is sunning - the high ceilings, the fountain, the plants everywhere, the natural light, the piano. It's elegant and old-world, glamorous and comfortable. I started with the lobster bisque and it was creamy, and full of chunks of lobster. Since it's called La Boucherie, I thought it best to order steak. Had the steak frites and it was perfect. The steak was expertly charred, flavorful and perfectly cooked and the frites were crisp and lightly salted. I had the profiteroles for dessert, which was a nice light ending to a lovely decadent meal. My family members had the escargot - garlicky and delicious and steak tartare for starters. My son had the burger - said it was great but a a little bit messy so maybe be fancy about it and eat with a fork and knife! My eldest son had the giant pork chop and absolutely loved it. He said he might even prefer it to the steak (because of course he tried my steak too). Hubby had the bœuf bourguignon and devoured it. Rounding out dessert, they had the crème brûlée and said it was excellent. Our server was knowledgeable and friendly. He was a little slow to take our order, but they were very busy so it was understandable. Be sure to visit the restrooms. Beyond the any- gender, completely private stalls, there is an adorable glamorous vanity where you can reapply your lipstick and feel very, very Hollywood. Or Paris. Enjoy! read more

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I took my Bestie out for an early celebration dinner and no other place in DC says elegance elevated quite like La Grande Boucherie. She was floored and she probably has 100 pictures of the ceiling in her phone. The aesthetics alone of this place is 10 out of 10. Riley was my waitress. I've never had Riley as a waitress and she was just a doll so kind! She gave us all the menu specials and of course, let us know that there were a few blossom drinks on the menu which we ordered. Delicious by the way! Steve and Amnie who were my waiters in the past, (and honorable mention a very special visit last year for my mom's 70th birthday) were assisting with a private party and I waved to them as they were on the balcony. The private party had not arrived, and they didn't know who I was from afar. They came down and remembered me and it felt like family, so warm and welcoming, I always feel so welcomed. My experience at Boucherie isn't about the food (phenomenal, BTW) but about how the staff makes me and my guests feel. My first time at Boucherie Amnie was my waiter and Steve checked in on our table and it set the tone for me to continuing to make reservations. We ordered the fresh oysters and the Wagyu Tartar never any complaints they are. I typically get the French onion soup, which is a fan favor, but this time I did not. Then we went on with a dry aged steak aside of the mac & cheese. My Bestie got a fillet over the creamy mashed potatoes. And I just love that we never have to worry about the food not being prepared to our liking. Parking is either by garage street side or they offer valet so that's a plus. I will definitely be back and I hope to see all of my favorites soon. read more

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We stopped at La Grande Boucherie for lunch and had a very good experience from beginning to end. The restaurant is impressive as soon as you walk in. The large dining room has a beautiful detailed ceiling, a massive chandelier, dark wood, greenery, and a grand staircase. It feels upscale and distinctive without being overly formal. It was also surprisingly quiet during our visit, which made it easy to relax, talk, and enjoy the meal without feeling rushed. The service was excellent. Everyone was friendly, attentive, and professional without hovering over the table. We ordered the tuna tartare, foie gras terrine, and croque monsieur. The food was well presented, and we enjoyed everything we tried. The foie gras terrine came with toasted bread, cornichons, salad, and several accompaniments, while the croque monsieur was served with a fresh side salad. The atmosphere is probably what makes this place stand out most, but the food and service lived up to the setting. I would definitely return, especially for a quiet lunch, date, or special occasion. read more

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The interior was beautiful (especially the stairs up from the entrance!!) yet cozy in a way. The drinks were delicious, I love me my espresso martini (had cherry blossom special). It was our first time eating escargot. It was good but we thought it was very salty, had to eat a lot of bread with it to balance. Braised beef was tender and flavorful but I'd say the highlight was the scallops. It melted in my mouth the cooked perfectly. Was a great birthday lunch :) read more

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Amazing place. Of us, everyone of us loved the food to dessert and drinks Wonderful ambienceI highly recommend this place . Ask for wonderful server Amine and Giovanni. read more

La Grande Boucherie - Crème brûlée - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I recently stopped by Le Grande Boucherie in DC and had a really enjoyable experience, especially sitting at the bar. The space itself is beautiful and gives off a classic, upscale vibe, which made it a great spot to unwind. I kept things simple and ordered the Caesar salad along with a lemon drop, and both hit the mark. The salad was fresh, well-balanced, and nicely presented, while the lemon drop was perfectly mixed smooth, refreshing, and not overly sweet. Service was good throughout my visit. The staff at the bar were attentive and friendly without being overbearing, which made the experience feel relaxed and easy. Overall, it's a great place if you're looking for a more refined atmosphere with solid food and drinks. I'd definitely come back, especially to grab a seat at the bar again. read more

La Grande Boucherie - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Delightful evening at La Grande Boucherie. Elegant cocktails, tasty appetizers, melt in your mouth steak, and stunning desserts! The service was great and the unisex bathrooms were clean. Walking distance from Metro Center metro stop. read more

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Not so "Happy" Hour! Among a plethora of restaurants in downtown DC, I specifically chose La Grande for a late night happy hour for a quick bite. The website displays said happy hour beginning at 10 pm. Upon arrival, I asked the host where happy hour was served and she responded "I don't think we do that anymore." She proceeded to tell us to check at the bar. The waiter in the bar area also stated "Oh yes we don't have that." Nope that's not what was advertised. The manager came and stated, "Oh we don't have happy hour on *slow nights *". Not sure how the consumer is supposed to know what a slow night is and the inconsistency in messaging is concerning. She offered happy hour priced drinks. However, I had several drinks elsewhere and was specifically here for food. She did acquiesce and allow food pricing. All in all, the Burger was very good. My friend enjoyed her oysters. But the experience. Meh. read more

La Grande Boucherie - Non happy hour menu - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The restaurant is very elegant. I liked walking up the grand stairs to the dining area. We started out with drinks and bread. I love it when the meal starts with warm, complimentary bread, especially when there are refills. For starters, we went with the steak tartare and oysters. The steak tartare comes in two sizes, and we opted for the larger size. The tartare was made of chopped beef tenderloin, capers, and topped with a quail egg. It was creamy with a hint of tartness from the capers. The oysters were briny but also sweet. I personally wished the oysters were bigger. While we were waiting for our entrees, we had to hunt down our server for another round of drinks. We were disappointed with the lack of service there. Our entrees included the 12oz prime NY strip and ribeye. What I thought would be a delicious first bite turned into disappointment. The steak was tough and wasn't seasoned well. It was the type of steak that called for A1 sauce. I did enjoy the elegance of the restaurant with a fountain in the center and high ceilings. There was a trio of musicians near our table playing music which elevated the ambiance. read more

This restaurant is in a beautiful old bank building including gold ceilings, statues, big chandeliers and art deco art. It's got the old-world glamour that feels like stepping back in time when architecture was art, so I'm glad a restaurant was able to save the space after a long vacancy. We ended up here a little earlier than planned and were surprised brunch went all the way until 4 pm, but our server Ligaya checked with the kitchen to see if they would prepare a porterhouse, which they did. While we waited, we dined the soft white bread, but the food didn't take too long. The porterhouse was tender and juicy and cooked perfectly accompanied by an array of delicious sauces. The fries were a great mix of salty and crunchy. The real start was the gouda macaroni, which was so decadent it was like more cheese than pasta in every bite. It only felt right to try one of their unique desserts, so we got the Paris-Brest which was delicate pastry sandwiching a hazelnut mousse spread. It was light but flavorful and a great finish to the meal. The food, service, and atmosphere were all amazing. If you are in the White House area, this makes for a very special dining experience. read more

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Had a reservation for Valentines Day at 10:30. Checked in at 10:15 and me and 30 of my closest friends waited inside the front entrance steps until about 10:50 when our name was called. We sat on the "third" floor on the balcony area. There was a set 3-course Valentine's Day menu which we ordered from. We started with sharing the Caesar salad and the French onion soup. The soup was good - I liked the broth and the cheese, but with many of the French onion soups, the amount of onions after you get thru the cheese is pretty off putting. The Caesar salad was standard. For my entree, I went with the filet au poivre which came with potatoes and the usual pepper sauce. We added the bernaise sauce on the side and then I also added the macaroni and cheese Gouda sauce. The steak was very good - perfectly cooked medium. The bernaise was very rich and a nice addition to the pepper sauce using both. The macaroni was also very good - I liked the salty and sharp flavor of the Gouda. For dessert I got pigeon-holed into the Paris- something. And it was not for me. I only had two bites and gave up. Overall - the service fell off halfway thru. Our meal took forever to come out, we struggled at getting refills and things just died down as the crowd did. Overall good. Was hoping for impeccable given the crowds. read more

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A fantastic dining experience. Our host Hugo was personable, funny and extremely helpful when detailing the menu. No question seemed too small and he made it a welcoming experience. Reservations are strongly recommended. Dress the part and please don't wear your pajamas or bonnet to this fine dining establishment. There is seating on the main floor and upper level. For those careless diners on the upper level dropping items...beware. I didn't notice an elevator but if you have mobility challenges, call ahead to find out about accommodations. Parking is at cost and can be a chore in this area. Some may opt to use a ride share, or public transportation. Started with the French Manhattan and it was strong. Paired with the foie gras as an appetizer it was delicious. For my entree, I opted for the tomahawk with puréed potatoes. By default, it comes medium well but the doneness and flavor were not an issue. I had the cheesecake with mixed berry compote. It is a richer dessert but so sinfully delicious. The bathroom is a single room with multiple stalls and a general sink area. No concerns for privacy and it was clean, but dimly lit. I would definitely dine here again and recommend this as an option to others. read more

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I will start with the ambience of this restaurant. It's very fancy and they put a lot of work into the interior of the restaurant to justify menu prices. It is amazing enough to celebrate any occasion - small or big. We weee seated upstairs and could appreciate the view of the downstairs and the grand staircase from there. The drinks were delicious and very strong and I couldn't taste the overpowering taste of alcohol which was amazing imo. We got a few dishes to try all. I loved the steak and the lamb chops the most. They were cooked to perfection and were tender and juicy. read more

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I am huge fan of La Grande Boucherie in NYC so I had to try DC location which is fairly new. This one is absolutely stunning!!!! I love their classic and elegant French brasserie with beautiful décor. The food was excellent. We ordered French Onion soup and Boeuf Bourguignon were so good. So much flavor to both. The service was professional, attentive, explain the dish so well, and also gave us their published book. We felt so special that day. well-paced, making the whole experience feel special. It is one of the memorable restaurant in DC. read more

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Love the inside of this restaurant -- it is truly beautiful! Especially during the holidays. I've visited for happy hour + drinks at the bar and sat upstairs for dinner. For the dinner, we had three glasses of wine, the Prime Steak Frites, Mushroom Ravioli, and the Boucherie Burger. Total cost was ~$210 with tip. Our server wasn't the most attentive but staff kept our water glasses filled to the brim, which I appreciate! The food is good, but for price tag, I think you are better off doing happy hour at the bar. Will definitely be back when I am in the area! read more

La Grande Boucherie - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Beautiful building and really lovely interior design. Very large and ornate space. The third floor looked particularly enticing with the overlook of the restaurant. Champagne mignonette was delightful. The oysters were poorly shucked with half not fully separated and most having broken shell. Bread service was nice, excellent butter with big flaky salt to add at your leisure. The big flaky salt was paramount to the rest of the meal... French onion soup and salad were both solid. Nothing to write home about but perfectly tasty. Seasoning was totally off on our mains. The fish was unbelievably bland, adding salt made it edible but still did not save it from lack of flavor. Ribeye was also underseasoned, although it was quite tender and had good crust. The grapefruit tart really missed the mark. All the bitter of the grapefruit is what the custard ended up being infused with, no delightful citrus flavor. Our waiter potentially had to many tables, as we rarely saw them and were not asked how the dishes were. Bussers did a good job, but even the check was a 15+ minute wait after having dessert. For the price point this is a one and done for us. read more

Went for a birthday dinner during restaurant week. Added an escargot appetizer and upgraded to the steak frites. I ended up spending over $200, but it was a pretty good dinner. The place inside seems really grand! I heard the place spent over $1 million on renovations and there's even gold leaf in the ceiling! To start, I had the pate, and then the steak frites, and finished it off with the pamplemousses. My wife had French onion soup, salmon, and chocolate tart. Note that the bread was really good and we had like 3 baskets! The place was very nice and you gotta see it for yourself! read more

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Went for RW and had to wait about 10 minutes even with a reservation, which wasn't too bad. The place was very busy and has tons of seating. The entrance is grand and almost royal, and getting to our table on the second level felt like walking through a maze in the best way lol. Our server Hugo was super welcoming and gave solid recommendations. The French onion soup was okay (I've definitely had better) but the espresso martini? Easily one of the best I've had. Very tasty and strong. I'd recommend this place for a special occasion, especially for the decor and drinks. The food was decent, but the overall vibe is what really stands out. read more

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Finally made it to this spot. I'll start with the food. The food gras was standard and tasty. The steak was perfectly cooked and had lots of flavor, I could've done without the fries though. Oysters were fresh and delicious. My friend's salmon was tasty and not overcooked. French onion soup was superb! The restaurant week deserts, however, could be removed. I regret not getting one of their standard menu desserts. We had some of their mocktails, the one with the nonalcoholic prosecco was sweet and delicious. The Ramble (I think that's what it was called) tasted more like a kombucha, it was pretty tart but not bad. As for service, everyone was pretty short, distracted, and some had a little hint of a nasty attitude. We had a reservation for 9PM and was told upon arrival, "we're busy and it'll be a 15 minute wait." That wasn't what was upsetting, what was upsetting was not being seated until about 9:45 and that was AFTER a manager asked us how we were doing and we explained our extended wait time. Once finally seated, our waitress wasn't short and not mean, but not particularly pleasant either. Maybe they are really leaning into the French stereotypes there. She was helpful when answering questions about the oysters! Anyway, the restaurant closes at 12 and I'm all for an efficient closing process, however I did NOT expect the lights to get bright around 11:40-11:45PM. The valet also came around to every remaining table to hand out keys. I'm not used to getting kicked out of restaurants this way. It was pretty aggressive especially when they close at midnight. It felt like they were rushing us out. The food is doing a heavy lift for this review, so I'm glad they have that to stand on. Not sure if I'll return, if I do maybe at an earlier time to not get kicked out. read more

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This restaurant is a mixed bag. Good, not great food, and very slow service. The one good aspect is the lovely atmosphere-- a restaurant needs more than that. It's definitely a restaurant where you can dress up and feel like you want to even though many don't. Drinks: Old Fashioned and Mocktail very good. Food: Caesar salad, scallops, and mushroom ravioli good. Nothing to make me want to go back. Bread basket with soft butter was very good. Desserts: Crème brûlée good not exceptional as I would expect from a French restaurant. Was told by Open Table response they would acknowledge my friend's b-day. The waitress knew nothing about it. I had to remind her. Nice that they did offer a small dessert. Service: Horribly slow for everything. Drinks, salad, entrees, desserts, and finally the bill took forever to get. At one point the waitress even admitted she didn't know why the desserts were taking so long. The staff was friendly. Atmosphere: Just lovely for Christmas. Music: Odd selection for this French restaurant. A bit too loud to have a nice conversation. We were on the top floor--not sure that had anything to do with it. Prices: They prices are fair especially for the atmosphere. Service charge: As a few restaurants are doing now, they added a 3% surcharge to cover higher food costs. On principle, I always ask for this to be removed. I believe it's a little shady. Be upfront about it, increase your food prices by $.50 or whatever you need. Parking: Valet for $27. The parking next door was closed. We parked across the street for $28. Bathrooms: Off putting. All the men were afraid to go in. It's unisex, but that is not obvious. Very crowded area. As soon as you open the door, those are where the water closets are and everybody's hanging out there. Very cramped area. As usual, I forget to take pictures until I've eaten almost all my food. read more

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Went right after the Christmas holiday with my girls for a Saturday brunch. My 2nd time here, and first was for dinner. First thing to note that upon entry there are stairs. Not necessarily an issue, but unsure if there is an accessible entrance or way up to the dining area so something to keep in mind. The restaurant itself is decorated in Art Nouveau style and gives a sense of grace and elegance that I've experienced in Paris. There's a piano in the middle that may or may not have someone playing depending on when you go. Steven/Stephen was our server and was pleasant, friendly, an patient. We appreciate him for handling us with care as the bubbles started flowing! Bottomless was $30 for mimosas with 3 types of juice (orange, pineapple, cranberry), and they were unfortunately out of Bellinis. For food, we started with complimentary bread, ordered escargot, French toast, and Cesar salad to start, 3 steak frites, salmon, and mushroom ravioli as the main, and had complimentary dessert as we were celebrating a birthday. The steaks were cooked to perfection and there were no complaints from anyone at the table. I did ask for garlic aioli which they didnt have and I was told they can't make - something to be mindful of if asking for off menu or modifications, especially those that aren't French originating. Random note: they dim the lighting closer to dinner time including in the bathroom (for my ladies looking to flick it up). See pics for more! read more

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The parking garage is right next door. At the time of this review, it was $12. Great price for DC! We walked up to the restaurant and stepped inside. The hostess' are right there to greet you. I give them my name for the reservation and are seated as soon as they seat the last customer. There are a lot of steps but not a bad walk up. Don't worry, if you can't manage the steps, there is an elevator near by. We were seated at a small table for two. There are people on either side of us. That wasn't too comfortable for us but we pushed through. The waiter comes over and asks us if we want tap or bottled water. We get bottled water. Everyone is professional. The waiter seemed a bit stand off-ish. He was also gone for long periods of time during our experience. Anyway, the food. Now my expectations were kind of high because this supposed to be a French restaurant. One of my friends warned me not to come but of course I had to experience this for myself. Just I make sure. We order the Caesar salad WITHOUT the anchovies, French onion soup, lobster bisque, shrimp cocktail, lobster pasta, crème brûlée, and salted caramel cheesecake. The Caesar salad was okay and overpriced. No offering of extra black pepper and/or shredded parm on top. French onion soup was bland even with the cheese. Salt and pepper did not help. The lobster bisque was bland as well. It had lobster in it but no flavor. The bisque was also browned in color than the reddish orange color I'm used to. Could use more lobster essence, maybe paprika and saffron for taste and color. Not sure but it was missing somethings. The shrimp cocktail was fishy in smell and bland as well. They are definitely huge though. The lobster pasta was pretty good. Sauce, lobster, pasta... it was regular. We listened as another patron complained about the service to a manager while we ordered dessert. I was hopeful! Maybe this would make up for everything. Dessert did not fit the bill. I'm not sure what type of cheesecake was put in front of us but it was not good. It seemed like a cake of cheese. The salted caramel made it even worse. The creme brûlée top was a bit burnt because you could taste it with the scoop. The custard was bland. I was disappointed. Despite the gorgeous decorations of the restaurant. The only thing good were the mocktails. Feel free to try for yourself. Side Note: Not sure you all are like me but when I think of French cuisine (or any cuisine), I think of rich, flavorful, elegant food. I think of rich butter, creaminess, fresh herbs, and layers of flavor (not heavily spiced). The use of techniques that enhance rather than mask the essence of the meal. I was thinking of olive oil, delicious variety of breads and the smell of garlic. I did not get that here. read more

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Walked-in on Christmas Day with my wife the restaurant was full and were reservations only understandably so. Luckily the bar area was open. The only downside to a Busy Christmas Day service was that all the waiters were busy and hardly batted an eye towards you. Gustavo the bartender was the exception to this as frankly we wouldn't have gotten to have our order taken yet alone eat without him. He went above and beyond for us and reassured us about our order and even apologized for the long wait. My wife ordered the French Onion soup which to our surprise was served sooner than we expected. We ordered our steaks medium and medium rare but both of them came out as medium. It was well seasoned though with a hint of rosemary. Hopefully our experience would be much better when the restaurant isn't too busy. Which shouldn't have been the case to begin with as this restaurant chain has so much potential to be great here in the DMV. read more

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La Grande Boucherie or the great butchery, is a fine dining French restaurant nestled inside Washington DC's Penn Quarter. The restaurant, which opened in April this year, occupies the former National Bank. Apparently, the building sat vacant for thirty or so years and the facelift that followed is nothing short of exquisite. I just had a pipe break in my basement, and I can assure you the facelift required to repair the ruined walls will look more like a haunted version of the classic cinema Face Off. Seriously though, anyone who has visited La Grande Boucherie can appreciate the time, and attention to detail they put into designing the restaurant. It's breathtakingly beautiful. From the greenery, the stained-glass windows, the bar, to the pictures around the restaurant. I was awestruck. My wife and I stopped in on Monday to have lunch. We parked just around the corner in a parking garage, but the restaurant does offer valet parking. After walking in, patrons are greeted by the red staired carpet, a gold ceiling and lots of green. Of course, there's more but those were the first few things that jumped out to me. The restaurant is decorated in the style of Art Nouveau or new art. If you've visited the sculpture garden in DC, there is restored "Metropolitan" entrance which was designed by Hector Guimard in the same style. We were greeted by Chris, the bartender and the only waiter serving on the floor from what we saw and were led to a table by the piano. Chris failed to introduce himself and I had to ask for his name. He dropped the drink menus and headed into the back to take care of his other tables. As he was the only waiter, service was a bit slower than expected. There were only a few other tables occupied and overall, we spent nearly two hours in the restaurant from start to finish which I felt was a bit too long for lunch. By the end my buns had rejected the stiff wood chair, and my back was screaming, begging for relief. But more on that later. Before our lunch, I had read the restaurants vision of "classic and modern French dishes" and so I did my best to keep an open mind when I ordered and tasted everything. To begin, my wife ordered a Mayan Punch while I had the Old Fashion. The Mayan Punch is made with Don Julio's Blanco, one of my favorite liquors, and its taste was nothing short of amazing. It was topped with a pineapple and a dried red pepper. We both enjoyed it. Whereas the Old Fashion was sweeter than I expected. The restaurant uses Wild Turkey, which is a mediocre, cheaper bourbon, personally, I would've selected Buffalo Trace over Wild Turkey but that's me. And, as Chris, our waiter, informed me that the sweetness was likely due to the Lavender and Plum. My wife loved it, (but she loves anything sweet) whereas I, who enjoys drinking his bourbon straight, sometimes with a single ice cube or smoked wasn't as much of a fan of it as she was. For an appetizer, my wife chose Les Moules a la Poulette while I went with the classic Soupe a L'oignon (French Onion). The muscles, tasted divine, my wife and I both enjoyed the rich tasting muscles coupled with the white wine and what I thought was a hint of mustard. To be quite honest, my wife hates mustard, so I was surprised she loved the dish as much as she did. The French Onion soup was more cheese than soup. Don't get me wrong, I love cheese, I love cheese so much that I could swim inside a fondue. While the soup was good, it just wasn't what I was expecting. I shared with the waiter that I grew up on French Onion soup. It was a staple inside our home but since we weren't that well off, our soups were more well soup than cheese. Cheese was expensive. Therefore, maybe my opinion favors a higher soup to cheese ratio rather than what was served at the restaurant. I'm sure others will like it. At this point I was ready for my second drink, and Chris recommended the Sazerac - a bourbon, cognac and absinthe cocktail. It did not fail to disappoint. To be frank, this cocktail tasted more old fashion than the old fashion itself. That is to say you could taste the alcohol, and I was happily at ease with this in my hand. For lunch, my wife ordered the Saumon Roti, while I chose the French Dip. The Salmon followed the muscles' theme of having a great rich tasting salmon, coupled with a mustardy tasting paste. My life was happily in heaven with her Salmon while I was left on the front porch in the rain wondering if I had made a mistake by ordering the classics. Chris had counseled me to choose the wagyu burger, and here's a tip that usually works out in your favor, if the waiter tells you to order something, you should probably order it considering their experience will almost always trump your opiniated tastebuds. I'm kicking myself as I write this review for not following his advice. Anyway, the French dip wasn't at all bad, but it arrived plated with fries, accompanied by mayo, gravy and was missing the horseradish. read more

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