Very professional service and wonderful French ambiance. Food was also very good. The cocktails were my favorite part of the evening.

Must get: Trout The trout was delicious and the roasted almonds they sprinkle on top were a great addition. I loved the variety of breads that you start off! Since we were at a French restaurant, I couldn't not get the steak frites. They were the best steak frites I've had in DC and the fries were the thickness that I enjoy. On the weekends they have an ice cream cart outside to top off the French atmosphere. read more

Le Diplomate - Steak Frites and Trout Amandine - Brasseries Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

My wife and I were lucky enough to go to Paris during our honeymoon, and, while nothing is as good as the real thing, Le Diplomate comes close! The restaurant certainly has a French café vibe (although I must admit that I am not an expert on French cafés), and it seems to be a delightful place to grab a wonderful meal or even just a drink. During my visit, my table ordered the mushroom tart and steak tartare as the appetizers. I must say, the steak tartare was absolutely amazing! I loved every single bite of it, and the mushroom tart was also extremely good. For the main courses, we got the steak frites and the moules frites. The frites were excellent, but the steak and mussels were a step above. I would highly recommend everything about Le Diplomate, but the best food in my experience was certainly the steak tartare. read more

Le Diplomate - Steak frites! - Brasseries Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I came here for a networking lunch on a weekday; the restaurant was very busy but we were seated quickly and the staff were very attentive read more

Le Diplomate - Curry Chicken Sandwich - Brasseries Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

A disappointing version of a French restaurant. Extremely loud, with diners dressed in their best t-shirts. Beef bourguignon was dried out and fairly flavorless. Steak frites served with chewy, uncuttable hanger steak. When offered to swap my steak for a strip, I said yes. I was told I was getting steak frites with a strip, but was served a different menu item, the steak au poivre. And then charged the more expensive price. It was excellent, but not what I ordered. The bread was probably the best part is the meal. read more

Great food !Awesome brunch My favorite items are warm shrimp salad,steak and their oysters are so fresh .I love their Hazelnut Mocha as well and pastry basket . Reservations needs to be made a head of time specially on Sundays . read more

Extraordinary lobster omelet, seabream crudo, and gougères. Attentive service. At lunch, the noise level is low enough for pleasant conversation. Nice touches included whipped sweet butter in a hefty ramekin. A couple across from us ordered a burger to share. Le Diplomate burgers are huge, so when it came cut in half it looked aptly proportioned for two diners. read more

LOVED! A must-experience. I ordered the braised lamb and my husband ordered the duck breast. And we ordered a tomato gazpacho to share. Definitely a top choice to try in D.C. read more

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This place was a huge let down. I do think the experience was impacted by the Covid-19 situation, however there were several issues and I felt like it could have been handled better. 1. We made a reservation (there is reservation only for this place due to the social distancing). You have a choice of inside or outside seating. We specifically chose outside seating due to health risks one of our party members had. Upon arrival they had no outside seating, claimed we never requested it (even though we made notes), and made it very difficult for us to get a table. Not a great start. 2. Several highlighted items on the menu were not available. No duck. No lamb. There were several items suddenly not available on a Friday. Honestly we would have chosen another place had we known. 3. Some of the food came less than glamorous. It looked as though it had been plated at silver diner. The foil gras looked particular paling in comparison to pictures you see people tagging online. 4. The rest of the food we ended up ordering, to include the mushroom flatbread, a burger, mussels, and a vegetable dish tasted ok. No one in our party was blown away by any one thing. Honestly not worth the hype. The only thing, surprisingly, that tasted amazing was the foie gras. I would have given it 1 star because it was so stressful with the whole seating situation and lack of menu items, however I could see they were still making an effort to provide social distancing and cleanliness standards, which we appreciated nonetheless. Definitely will not be coming back for another try unless the Covid environment changes, especially if their outdoor seating is that limited. read more

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MANY of our colleagues have recommended this place, so we had extremely high expectations. To start, we had the Mushroom Tart ($15) -- pioppini mushrooms, truffle pecorino and the Onion Soup Gratinée ($13). For my entree, I had the Moroccan Braised Lamb ($32) -- lamb neck, harissa, couscous. We shared the Profiteroles ($11) -- praline, banana, vanilla ice cream, bittersweet chocolate. Although we enjoyed the concept of the Mushroom Tart, we found it to be cold, underwhelming, and surprisingly bland, lacking some basic salt and pepper seasoning. However, we felt that the Onion Soup Gratinée was seasoned well and offered a naughty (yes, I used that adjective) amount of gooey, melted cheese, which was pretty amazing. Unfortunately, my entree was a HUGE disappointment. Although the lamb was cooked well and was reasonably tender, the entire dish was overpowered by an unbearably strong perfumey flavor that likely came from their particular blend of herbs and spices mixed into the couscous. I completely understand that everyone has their own personal tastes, but this one was a doozy. Luckily, the Profiteroles helped us end the meal on a high note; it was arguably one of the best desserts I've had in D.C.. The Profiteroles were light and crunchy, and the chocolate sauce added just the right about of sweetness and decadence to the dish. Seriously really good. Also, let me also take the time to say that we waited 1.5 hours for a table, only to be turned away at the last second, only to be offered a table five minutes later. Confused? So were we. Also, I get that crowded restaurants can be noisy, but this was something else. Given the unreasonable wait time, chaotic atmosphere, and unforgivably strange couscous, we are so disappointed to have to give Le Diplomate only 3 stars. read more

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Came here before but never get treated like this. Party of 6 waited for an hour and half which is much longer than what we have been told (30 minutes). We were not able to get a table while the guy at front desk let a group of equally large walk-in group that came later than us to sit down first. We were always the next one on the waitlist as the guy told. Will avoid this place in the future. read more

Delicious food. Casual, friendly atmosphere. Everyone seems to be really enjoying themselves. It's great when the weather is right, the windows open and the street life also entertains. It's been a while since I've been there so I can't remember what I ordered. But it was the closest thing to Paris I've gotten in decades. read more

One the best meals I have EVER had. The service (Thank you Janell), the cuisine, and the atmosphere make this a true dining experience. If you only have 1 night in DC, eat here. read more

Le Diplomate - Brasseries Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Absolutely adorable brunch spot!! They have plenty of seating, outdoor booths, outdoor seats with heaters, a covered patio section, an indoor fully covered patio and the inside of the restaurant. I came around brunch time on a Saturday and only had to wait a few minutes for a table without reservations. The first thing you see is their giant bread display. It came with about 3 different types of bread that were all so delicious... might have eaten a bit too much lol. We ordered a onion soup to share and the waiter kindly split it into two for us (also saw other tables opting for that). I was pleasantly surprised because this definitely felt like more than 1/2 of a regular order, if no more soup, definitely more bread and cheese on top (which I do not mind). By the time we were finished with the soup, I was already pretttttty stuffed. I was glad they also split the omelette because I couldn't finish my half lol. We ended up taking a bite of the pancakes and then taking the rest to go. Everything was super delicious but my biggest regret was no ordering the warm shrimp salad. This is my second time coming here and my second time regretting not getting that salad. I look at it on the menu and can't bring myself to pay $22 for a salad but everytime I come here.. that's the only thing I want on the menu after the bread basket and the onion soup, it looks so light and refreshing after the heavy soup. Sigh.. next time. read more

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-the holiday decor is everyth u want i would return just to see it again -loved the assortment of bread for tha table including my fave the wheaty raspberry nut one!!! good butter too none of those dumb blocks -pate was rich wo being too fatty; the romaine/raspberry was perfectly tangy good accomp -cannot go wrong w snails yumyum so flavorful n tender -steak au poivre was decent, sauce was a little sweet for my taste -dates duck was cooked well but wasnt the biggest fan of the lentils/root veg accomp -also they sent out the mains way too early but were chill abt redoing -i liked that it was packed/bustling pretty much the entire night (we were there like 8-10pm) but if u wanted someth quiet/ intimate mayb visit during non holiday szn ? we were like 3 inches away from the next table lol tldr 10/10 vibes+ambience, 9.5/10 food !! read more

Amazing service. Great menu. We opted for cheeseburgers & fries. Huge double Pattie's with lotsa yummy sauce & toppings. A ton of fries. Warm shrimp salad was amazing!! Basket of bread was varied and sooo good. Great cocktails & beer/wine selection. We opted to share the pistachio/raspberries dessert with sorbet. It was amazing and the perfect finale to a fabulous lunch. Free parking around the corner was a huge plus too. read more

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Le Dip is one of the most consistent restaurants in DC. No matter how many times you go, you will get the same wonderful experience each time. We typically go for brunch or dinner. But no matter when I go, I'm almost always bound to get the Warm Shrimp Salad. It's a non-neogiatable. If i had one meal left on this earth, it might be that. Other favorites include the Burger (literally one of the best in DC), the Norwegian Benedict (for bunch) and the Steak Frites. And don't forget the pasty basket (also only brunch). Top it all off with a Romarin and you've got yourself a meal. read more

There's a reason this place is a DC institution. Came here for a later brunch on a Saturday in January. There were 4 of us and we had a heated outdoor chalet, which was very cute and surprisingly cozy despite it being a bitterly cold day. I have heard that the service can sometimes be a little slow, but that was not a problem for us at all. Our server was lovely and took amazing care of us. The 4 of us shared a Petit Plateau and it came out incredibly fast. Everything was delicious and fresh. My favorite were the oysters. We had a few cocktails and then switched to champagne. Wine markups are what they are, but if there's ever a time to splurge on champagne, coming here for a fabulous brunch is it. Our party ordered a chicken club sandwich, Gruyère omelette, Trout Almondine (something like that, trout with almonds), and a few other things. Everything was fantastic but my favorite were their unreal pancakes. This was a last minute addition for the table and it was probably the best stack of pancakes I've ever eaten. For dessert, the pot de creme is a must try. We loved that this place really didn't make us feel rushed. We ate and drank and really enjoyed the afternoon without feeling like one more table that needs to be rushed out. We'll definitely be back. read more

Excellent food, one of my and favorite location! The Steak Tartare is so good as well as the steak frites! As for deserts I am a big fan of the ice cream profiterole. The service is commendable and their wine list as well!! read more

Le Diplomate - Brasseries Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Good food, good service and tasty bread. Enough said. Always busy fast paced. Lunch menu could use more options.

One of my favorite restaurants in DC. You can have a fantastic brunch, fancy dinner, or even just a killer burger after a day at the pool. Highly recommend ! read more

The area around 14th and Q, in its day formerly dicey at best, somewhat creepy and dangerous at worst, is now as hot, hip, happening gentrified part of town with cool bars, ramen joints, Whole Foods, fun shops and stylish townhomes. Le Diplomat, sitting squarely in the middle of this stylish hood, is a large, hugely popular, I mean packed, French Bistro style restaurant and bar with a charming interior, stylish greenhouse, turned outside seating area in the summer. We just had a mid afternoon snack, Onion soup, wine and the house bread before a dinner party but everything was excellent. We weren't given the bums rush to turn the table despite our meager check, which was nice. Make reservations if possible as people wait to get in. Once inside, it's a vibrant, energetic place where you can still talk and enjoy good food. Looking forward to going back for dinner sometime. read more

Le Diplomate - The real deal. - Brasseries Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

So good I had to come back again! I managed to find a last minute reservation online for Saturday brunch outside. We sat in a little booth by the street which had a little heating vent, overhead lamp, and even a fan (for warmer months). The food was fantastic again. This time we got the softest fluffiest buttermilk pancakes ever, steak tartare, and eggs norwegian. The portions are so generous and you can't go wrong with any of the dishes. Until next time :) read more

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Large, very noisy restaurant that somehow seems to work, maybe because it's reminiscent of a French bistro. Energetic vibe. It seems to be very popular. Service was impeccable. For such a large, busy restaurant, I was impressed they provided new cutlery before each course. Parking is difficult. Hubby liked his steak tartare & duck a l'orange. I enjoyed my tomato salad with firm segments of delicious ripe tomatoes. My grilled branzino was less to my liking. The 2 filets were somewhat bland with salt being the main flavor. Accompaniments were white beans and what I think were olives, but the taste was quite vinegary & acidic. The citron dessert was beautiful and tasty with a nice lemony flavor, accompanied by coconut meringue discs. read more

French toast is superb! Get fresh fruit instead of the apples..... really really good. Get a breakfast bread basket... it's worth the price. read more

Le Diplomate's brunch is a must-go. My friend and I dropped by Le Diplomate about a half hour after they first opened on a Sunday. We were lucky to be able to seated immediately, while larger groups already had about an hour wait. (Le Diplomate is a VERY popular place, highly recommend making reservations or coming early if you can). Instantly, the atmosphere and layout of the restaurant is aesthetically pleasing and fun. My friend ordered the poached eggs basquaise with prosciutto and polenta. I'm usually not a fan of polenta, but this was delicious. I had the french toast which came topped with brandied apples, toasted walnuts, and a delicious chantilly creme. The french toast was perfect, with a little bit of a more gooey center, which I love. Overall, beautiful presentation AND delicious food! Wonderful atmosphere, reasonable pricing, and friendly staff. Highly recommend if you're visiting DC! Le Diplomate is my favorite restaurant in DC by far, and it will be my first go-to next time I'm around! read more

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Nice experience at Le Diplomate. The service was great. The food was decent. Ambiance was wonderful. We sat outside during the evening this past week and the weather was perfect. I hope to go back and try some other items on the menu soon. read more

Le Diplomate - Ribeye - Brasseries Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The food here is PHENOMENAL!! I tried escargot for the first time and it was so good! Got the braised lamb with couscous and the duck. Love this place! Can't wait to come back again! read more

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I have been waiting years to come here for brunch or eat dinner and was really disappointed by the whole experience. I understand we are in a covid world and we very much appreciate restaurants taking all safety measures to stay open, keep people safe and serve food. We are extremely careful when going out and where double masks, keep our distance and take as many precautions as we can to stay safe and keep people safe. The staff at the restaurant were really rude to us. We came there for a bday brunch and we know that reservations were made for the right amount of people. When we got there, we were going to sit in a table but then told we could not sit there because the toddler child would make it 7 people. We asked where we should sit and the hostess responded that she didn't know. She made it seem like there was not a table for us and we would have to leave. So we were standing in the middle of the porch unsure if we would have a table. The hostess was a rude as we were not sure where to stand while they figured the table situation out. Surprised because reservations were made for the right number of people and we were a little late but most of the party was there and another person came after us. The waitress was nice. Service was slow but that is ok we were there hang out. During the brunch some of us got up to switch up the tables so we could intermingle and again the host was super rude. He like yelled from a distance for us to get back to our tables because of the 6 person per table rule, but there were six people per table and so he stood down. He was not happy though. We have been to other restaurants and the staff was very nice in letting us know the covid policy. We are very aware of the environment and understand this is a stressful time for restaurants. Regardless that does not require rudeness. The experience here was pretty surprising because this restaurant has a great name. I was surprised by the table situation in the beginning and the rude hosts. The food was pretty good but it was a bit expensive which is expected for an establishment like this. It has a great atmosphere. We would probably come back here after COVID because it seems during COVID some staff were rude. read more

Yum!! On a spontaneous trip to DC I saw the great reviews for Le Diplomate but figured we wouldn't be able to get in since we did not make a reservation. We opted to try to get in for Sunday brunch and were successful! We got there right as they opened (literally they were unlocking the doors) and there was already a line. I'm not sure what the usual wait is but I would suggest making a reservation if you can and if not, go right as they open. The interior was beautifully decorated and one of my favorite parts of the restaurant! We were seated on the outside patio which I was concerned was going to be chilly (I went in early March) but there were plenty of space heaters so the temperature was no problem. I ordered the fresh OJ and Poached Eggs Basquaise. It was SO Tasty and different than what I would normally get/order. It was filling and so creamy. The OJ was very fresh and tasty. If I am back in DC I will definitely return to try either their lunch or dinner. read more

Le Diplomate - Poached Eggs Basquaise - Brasseries Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Slow service but excellent food, bread service was unique, entrees were good but too slow

Delicious French food at a reasonable price. Really enjoyed the curry chicken sandwich and the chocolate profiteroles. Our server was very friendly and helpful. read more

What can I say, "Le Dip" is a well known spot in DC. It is a good French Steak and Fries restaurant. It has reliably good (not great) food, great ambiance, and is in a good location. Most people go for lunch during the work week. If you haven't been, go....at least once. read more

The food is fine but predictable, boring and tired. Been there. Done that. This space is long overdue for a complete makeover. LeDiplomate is STALE read more

My husband brought me back a burger when he went for dinner with colleagues last night. The burger and fries were great. He told me he had trout and the best ravioli he ever tasted. read more

Le Diplomate - Card - Brasseries Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

AMAZING PLACE! Came to this place because it had a lot of good reviews. There was a lot of people here in the morning when we came on a Sunday afternoon. Our wait time for 2 people was surprisingly pretty fast although the guy did tell us about 45 minutes to an hour. We literally walked like 5 blocks down and get a text that our table was ready, so we walked back to the restaurant. To start, we ordered a half dozen assorted oysters and oh man! Fresh as can be and super tasty. Love the small oysters! Tuna Carpaccio - Super different in terms of flavoring but the texture and taste is great! Not sure if we were supposed to eat it with the bread but we did and it gave it this extra kick to it ! Mushroom Tart - OH man, its a dish I've never seen in my city but this thing is like a pie with mushrooms on top of it and its super unique! Definitely a good dish to try! Then, the best dish we've felt we had was the Foie Gras Parfait! Its a dip and they give you this super super soft bread to dip it into and it was just simply amazing. We ran out of the bread and they did give us some more at the end to finish off the Parfait. We also had a couple glasses of wine to go with our food. This place is on the corner and it gives off a very different vibe and environment when you walk in. I do definitely recommend this place to anyone visiting D.C. as well. read more

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My boyfriend wanted a burger and he hasn't had the one from Le Diplomate. I was able to make a reservation online and we decided to go! We got 2 grapefruit vodka martinis and then he got the burger and I got the amazing Beef Bourguignon. The dessert was amazing, pistachio, raspberry and so delicious. Def recommended! read more

Le Diplomate - The Burger American and the Beef Bourguignon - Brasseries Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Go To Restaurant for after the Kennedy Center. Food is reliable, staff is nice and the kitchen is open late enough for us!

I like it. Sort of Balthazar in DC vibe. Who doesn't like rustic French food? I had the salade niçoise for lunch and it was good - plenty of food for the price and the service was friendly too. I was sitting along the banquette off the main dining room in the sunroom area when 2 friend showed up. the table for two next to us was unoccupied and I suggested to the host that they put the tables together? Mais non monsieur! They weren't having anything to do with that - we had to move to a table of four on the other side of the room - the staff moved my seating - but that seemed a bit ridiculous. Also indulged in a decadent milk chocolate pot de crème and it did not disappoint. In any event, I'll be back. read more

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First meal in dc...can say it's my favorite restaurant in dc!!! Like the cozy environment...and also the food there are fantastic. Would highly recommend. Definitely will come again read more

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