I have Been to France alot and this is the best French restaurant i have been too in the USA the look and vibe in awsome to food is the best French food outside of France i have had too bad i live in NYC or i would go more often read more

Wooooow hands down one of my favorite meals I have had in DC! Had a great time at brunch here on a beautiful sunny Sunday. We made a reservation a few weeks in advance and had to wait maybe 10 min before we got seated. Thankfully they have luggage storage available so we were able to store our suitcase and weekenders in a secure location. The inside is very open and airy. I also love that they have bistro tables outside. We had a very attentive server who was very friendly. I ordered an espresso martini, mussels (moules frites), and crème brûlée. Loved everything! Including the free bread basket which came with the most delicious spreadable butter. The sauce with the mussels was especially delicious. And I loved the French fries. Not too oily and just the right amount of salty. All of my friends enjoyed their meals as well (French toast, quiche, and the burger). Would absolutely return! read more

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LeDiplomate was on several list of places to try when in DC so we added it on our list. It is in the fun neighborhood of DuPont Circle and has great decor. The menu is French bistro inspired and had a lot of good choices. We opted for the Charcuterie for a starter which was served with selection of meats and a tasty pate. We also ordered the Onion Gratinee and Pea Soups. The onion soup was coated with lots of melted cheese. However, the flavor was almost slightly bitter and had the aftertaste of slight burnt flavor. It was, by no means inedible, just had an off taste. The Pea Soup was very clean and refreshing. For our entrees we got the Salmon over Lentils and the Mussels and Fries. The salmon was perfectly cooked medium-rare and the lentils had rich flavor. The broth with the mussels paired perfectly with the fries and were great to dip bread in as well. Overall this is definitely a good choice for dinner one of the nights on our vacation to DC. We would come back again. I will say it is VERY loud in there and almost to the point you had to yell to talk to your table mates. But overall a great experience. read more

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OMG. I loved this place! I'm still thinking about the onion soup days later. Our waiter was incredibly kind and friendly and accommodating to my need for different checks. The atmosphere is so neat as well. When we asked for recommendations, we could tell they were sincere and genuine and the waiter really did enjoy what they recommended. Loved it and can't wait to come back on a future visit! read more

There's a reason for Le Dip's excellent reputation. The place is consistently packed, any time of the year, any day of the week. Do yourself a favor and plan ahead - reserve a table ahead of time to ensure a great meal. And if you're quick, you might still catch the gorgeous Christmas decor. This restaurant is huge and beautiful any time of year, but I must say this is the best time to go! I'd highly recommend starting with the warm shrimp salad and the escargot. Seasoned to perfection, these dishes are light enough to serve as starters but so good you'll consider going for it as a main. You can use the table bread to mop up left over sauce and dressing, though the bread can stand on its own as well. This time, we went for the Wednesday special Porc Milanese and the fresh black truffle Spaghetti. Both were just as delicious with healing portions. I'm excited to dive in to my left overs! Finally, we had to end the night with the Profiteroles. A le dip classic, these were just as good as the reviews state. A hint of banana, the fresh warm chocolate...yum! read more

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There's no questioning why Le Dip is a DC staple. The environment is charming and inviting - and most importantly makes you feel like you've just stepped into dinner in Paris. I had a dinner reservation for 2 and our service was great. Our waiter answered all of our questions and was attentive but not pestering us. I ordered the Steak Frites & my friend ordered the Trout dish. The wine list was fantastic! read more

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

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This spot was on my list while in DC- so glad we were able get reservations! We got a frose, French onion soup, cheeseburger, veal, grilled branzino, New York strip au poivre, kid's Mac n cheese, mushroom tart, and warm shrimp salad. All the food was really good and flavorful. Service was excellent and l also loved the complimentary array of breads. We couldn't leave without getting dessert, so we got the profiterole, Baba A L'Armagnac, and the vanilla bean creme brûlée. All of the desserts were so delicious and not too sweet. Definitely with a visit if you're in DC! read more

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"Le Diplomate" - translates to "The Diplomat", and this restaurant is a diplomat - for decent food. Social media mos def shot this restaurant into stardom, as one of the recommended "must try" restaurants in this area of DC. And yes, the people of DC should come try it, at least once, but more than that, not so much. The steak frite that I was brought should have been renamed as the "frite, with a side of steak." Holy mackerel. With the amount of fries they hunkered down on the plate, it's like they wanted to consistently remind me, "Did we happen to mention this is indeed a Steak Frites?!" The saving grace of the restaurant was the house burger. With the French and American flag toothpicks that the burger had plunged into it, I firmly believe sending this burger to France would be an excellent manner to strengthen relations between the two countries. That is how good it was. The service was decent; I couldn't resonate with all the claims of "service being spectacular". Have people been forced to settle for service NOT being subpar being the new "spectacular"? In regard to ambiance, this is a place you can safely categorize as being a "date night spot", as it does away with the polos and T shirts you might find at chain restaurants. The wait staff dress professionally, and the decor is there. If there's a special young lady that you had fly into DC to meet you, and she was new to the area, Le Diplomate should be one of the places you bring her. "This is the restaurant you take your out of town friends to, and tell them this is a local's spot, to keep people from burning out the actual local spot." read more

What a fun spot for a late night bite and drink! This was my first spot to visit straight from the airport - we ordered the le diplomate fromages with a selection of 6 cheeses to share. I ordered a lavender mocktail and loved it! My friends enjoyed their glasses of wine. The best part though? The bread and butter! So divine! Despite the business of the restaurant at 10pm, service was quick. Would love to check out their brunch next time I am in town! read more

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

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Great ambiance with the French-inspired decor and music. I went in for lunch on a weekday and got seated in the Green Room, so it was quiet and relaxed. Service was excellent: attentive, quick, and helpful with menu suggestions. As a first-timer to French cuisine, I don't have much to compare the food to but was pleasantly surprised by how many dishes I enjoyed. The branzino was tender and the steak (medium) was quite juicy and flavorful. read more

I had heard great things about Le Diplomate so I was very excited to give it a try when I was recently in DC. We got there around 3 on a Saturday, so we ordered off of the midday menu. We only had to wait about 5 minutes for a table without a reservation. We started off with drinks- I ordered a glass of red wine and my date ordered an espresso martini but with tequila. Bread was brought out to us to enjoy. The butter was divine! Still thinking about that butter! lol anyways, my date ordered a half dozen of oysters and the mushroom tart. I ordered the steak frites. Everything was amazing from start to finish. Our waiter was great and the ambiance of the restaurant was fun. It gave me old school French vibes. I 100% Will visit again the next time in DC. read more

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I have been coming here for birthday celebration almost every year- I love the bread here, especially the cranberry walnut! I typically do street parking though I did see a sign for valet. Their food is slightly on the saltier side (ie. escargot) but it gets paired with bread so it somehow works out. We always order their steak tartare, mushroom tart, and escargots. Duck confit is always good and their roast chicken is good too- not too dry. Overall definitely recommend this place and definitely recommend getting reservation as this place can get quite busy, even on a weeknight ! read more

Came here for a late dinner to try classic French cuisine! We didn't make a reservation, but a friendly waiter seated us immediately. Sitting in the glass-enclosed atrium let us escape the bustle of the main dining room.  I loved eating the buttery Foie Gras Parfait with the sweet brioche toast. The Brown Butter Poached Scallops felt firm and juicy. The Duck a L'Orange wasn't tender, but paired well with the zesty sauce. I liked the incorporation of bananas in their Profiteroles - a delightful bite to end the meal! read more

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Le Diplomate is the place to visit if you like French cuisine. Everything about this place makes you feel like you're in France - the loaves of freshly baked bread in front of the entrance, the little tables lined up on the side of the building facing the street, the amazing green room and of course, the food. We tried the mushroom tart, the salmon tartare, the mussels, and the beef dish- everything was to our liking. This place took us back to Paris for a meal. read more

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I went to culinary school, and am half french. 4/5, a little expensive but would be happy to return. Some elements could be slightly better. The escargots were good, I would have expected 12 for that price, but the quality was there. The sauce was not the traditional parsley-garlic. There was very little parsley which was a shame. It was primarily a garlic puree sauce, as you can tell from the second picture. The onion soup was very good. The branzino was very well served. I was expecting a fillet but both halves of the fish were there. I just wish that they had done something the beans and peppers than simply take them out of a container. They were cold and tasted like they had been swimming in seed oils. If you're going to keep serving them cold, atleast consider storing them in extra virgin olive oil. read more

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Food was good but not sure if I would go back. It is very overhyped but not sure if it was worth it. May be fun to come with a group of friends. I came here for brunch as a solo traveler a bit ago. The ambiance is cute like a little French cafe and the service was quick but nothing to write home about. The bread basket is pretty good the bread is all homemade and you get a bunch of different types and the butter is also homemade. I had the trout on top of green beans with blanc sauce. Good. Green beans were well done and the fish was also good. Overall it is a decent spot for food, 3/5 met expectations. read more

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

I don't know why it took me so long to go to Le Diplomate but I loved everything about my meal! When we arrived our table wasn't ready yet so we sat at the bar and ordered espresso martinis which were delicious. Once we were seated we shared the Escargots à la Bourguignonne and Onion Soup Gratinée. I never had escargot before but this was seriously amazing. It comes with a garlic parsley butter that is perfect for dipping your bread in too. The onion soup was good as well! Our waiter was kind enough to split the soup between the 3 of us to share. For entrees I got the Steak Au Poivre which comes with garlic spinach on the side. It was cooked a perfect medium and the sauce was delicious. Other entrees we ordered were the Steak Frites cooked medium rare and Lobster Thermidor. Both were so flavorful and perfectly cooked. Overall all our food was amazing and the ambiance and service were just as good. Everyone talks about Le Dip for a reason and I'm so glad I got to finally try it! read more

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I went here for brunch as I was told it was a must, and thankfully it didn't disappoint! The staff were really nice and attentive. We started off with their famous bread. Each type of bread I tasted was simply well baked and delicious, which made for a great start. For food, I ordered the Escargot and Moules Frites. The escargot was well cooked, but the seasonings were just ok. I've honestly had better tasting escargot, but I loved that it came with a fresh baguette. The mussels were also well cooked and the broth was extremely well made and seasoned. The fries were a nice plus with the meal. I highly recommend eating at this restaurant whenever you are in town! read more

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

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Great decor! The odd thing was that we arrived when a union protest was taking place outside the restaurant. Lots of people banging on 5 gallon buckets and screaming via megaphones. We were seated on the "indoor patio" which was very nice and brought us into the French "atmosphere". Service was fantastic. Our waiter, took the time to review the menu and describe how the dishes were prepared. Appetizers consisted of the Escargots à la Bourguignon which were sere served out of the shell in a small bath of butter and garlic. Perfect. My wife and niece ordered the French onion soup. As the waiter stated, "if we can't get the soup right, we have major problems." It was excellent. I had the Steak au Poivre, which I found to be to "too peppery" with both the steak encrusted with black pepper along with the sauce. My niece had the Steak Frites which she loved, cooked to a perfect medium rare. My wife had the Duck Confit , which consisted of a single leg of duck, but was very tasty. Atmosphere and service was great. I would rate the food a 7 to 8 out of 10. read more

The atmosphere here is incredible! We sat in the atrium area - such a refreshing vibe. Food was was excellent - would highly recommend the oysters. Served was incredibly helpful and helped us pick drinks. A great place for locals and tourists alike. read more

Love Le Diplomate for a good brunch! Highly recommend reservations in advance. The interior is beautiful and very french vibes. We started off with their yummy fresh bread basket and their cold brew coffee. Everything we ordered was so good. The warm shrimp salad was different. The shrimp were large and fresh.. simple but delicious salad. The burger here is always a staple!! Highly recommend. The onion soup was warm and so cheesy... first time trying it and recommend if you're looking for a hearty soup. The service was great and attentive. We enjoyed the vibes, service, and the food! Another great Starr restaurant! read more

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

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Everyone in DC raves about Le Diplomate and I wanted to love it but it was just average. We didn't have a reservation and only had to wait about an hour for a table which wasn't too bad at all given the crowd inside the restaurant. The restaurant itself was very pretty and had a warm, inviting vibe especially when compared to the cold outside. There weren't that many vegetarian options which was a bummer. The bread was a bit hard and the macaroni gratin was a too salty for my liking. The creme brûlée however was wonderful. read more

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

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Le Diplómate is worth the hype. Last Nov '23 I was able to book an early dinner 2 weeks in advance on a weekday. Ambiance was phenomenal, classy, full of people but also warm and cozy. At first we were assigned seating outside in the tarp booths but we felt it was a little cold and also missing the inside vibe so they accommodated us inside, best decision! Food: everything we ordered was delicious and you can tell the attention to the quality! Eacargots were fresh, buttery and garlicky. Pate was amazingly rich and creamy, perfect on their fresh baked baguettes We shared their branzino, clams, strip steaks, they were all carefully seasoned and cooked to perfection. Even though the place was packed, service was still great. This is a must come back place for me! read more

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Went to Le Diplomate for lunch with my girlfriend the other day. We had amazing lunch everything was perfect; forgive me but I forgot our server name but he was very attentive to our table and great with suggestions for lunch read more

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We booked a brunch reservation for after the Marine Corps Marathon, and it was the perfect choice. I had to have the pastry basket since I was craving all the carbs! The breads and pastries are always a highlight at Le Dip. I ordered the quiche with a side salad and a side of French fries. The quiche was delicious and filling. The fries were great as well! The service was a little slow, and the waiter was not great about refilling our waters very timely. The weather was perfect for sitting outdoors. The covered patio is very cute and comfortable even during busy brunch hours. read more

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

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Le dip? More like Le disappointed. This is the knock-off version of the original Parc restaurant in Philly and it shows. If I hadn't been to the OG restaurant I probably would've thought this was fine, maybe even good. But Le dip just didn't not compare. Firstly, we came here for brunch which was busy and bustling even at 11:30am when it opened (Parc opens at 8am) on Friday. We got seated pretty quickly in the covered outdoor patio. I will give them props that the decor is very cute; the green tile wall is gorgeous. We ordered coffees first- one hot and one Vietnamese (spoiler alert they would not come until we ordered and received our food). We ordered the French onion soup and the French cheese omelet. I've had both at Parc and not only were they more than $1 more than at Parc (sure I guess DC is a more expensive city) but were significantly worse. The French onion soup was lukewarm when I got it and had huge chunks of bread in it that I had to cut with my knife. I was most disappointed by the omelet, a French omelet should have a nice sheen on it; this one was small and wimpy looking and way too salty. The side salad was overdressed wilted greens. Strangely, while one server was trying to clear our plates the server asked why I didn't like my coffee; which I hadn't had time to drink because they came so late. Overall, I was really disappointed with this place. Maybe they should go dine at Parc to get a sense of what they should be aiming for. read more

Fantastic spot every time we go here. Love the Foie gras! Great service, always clean, and the interior decorating is top notch. Wish I lived closer. read more

Good is amazing. Their French onion soup is to die for. Lots of cheese and very fulfilling. It's pricy for simple food read more

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

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A favorite to visit while in town, I love their decor and the whole bar area. I came for drinks and dinner with work friends and it was great as always. The onion soup is delicious, the table bread was warm and the perfect pairing for a nice glass of wine. read more

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Place is filled with life as you walk in. Busy place to grab some great food or brunch. Music playing and vibin' crowd. Definitely felt like a locals place. Service was great. Drink selection expansive. Dish quality is mouthwatering. Thank you for doing what you do So well. read more

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I came here for my birthday and had the best time!! All of the food we ordered was fantastic, as well as pastries we received for free- I have no idea why, just friendly I guess- and the small desert with a candle for my birthday!! I will say I'm taking a star off because when we were sampling a wine the sommelier only communicated to my male partner (I'm a girl). It was my birthday and I'm the one who was choosing so it was a bit awkward. And I never got to sample the wine he just poured me a full glass and left, so I guess that was us committing to the bottle? Luckily it was delicious but still- I've never had that happen anywhere there is a sommelier on site. Very odd and I did not like it!! read more

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Happy Monday everyone! Being located in Philadelphia I absolutely love all Steven Starr restaurants. On a recent trip to Washington, DC I got a chance to try Steven Starr's Le Dipolomate located in DuPont Circle. Le Dipolomate a beautiful French resturant that gives Parc but in DC! The seafood was so fresh, bread basket was tremendous just like Parc in Philly and the eggs Benedict was something I will dream about. Really enjoyed dining here for brunch and cannot wait to try dinner here next time! Appetizers: - Shrimp Cocktail - Chilled Lobster Mains: - Eggs Benedict made with ham off the bone - Avocado Toast Definitely one of the best brunches I've had in a while and would recommend to anyone visiting DC! read more

The treatment I received from this place was horrible. The atmosphere and decoration was good but they treated me horribly. I watched them treat an all white male table great, I was sat first and the other tables got their order and food before me. read more

Very busy restaurant, I enjoyed everything . The shrimp salad was perfect ! I don't even like shrimp that much and it was so fresh , the dressing was read more

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

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so so impeccable -- everything from the ambience, to the bread basket, to the apps, to the entrees, the drinks was so so delicious. natalie is an AMAZING server, cannot recommend this place enough read more

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Le Diplomat has immaculate vibes. I've been once for brunch and once for happy hour/light dinner and both times were a lovely experience. The food is good, not amazing and a bit pricey, but the atmosphere is fantastic. Food tends to come out pretty fast and the service is warm and attentive. However, on my second visit, they forgot the complementary bread basket, which was a bummer (because it's really good). The beverage menu is also great, and you can't beat a spritz on the sidewalk patio in the summer, while watching the world go by! read more

I know people rave about this place. I thought it was good, but not someplace that I'd rush back to. My friend and I had dinner on the late side one night. She enjoyed her trout amandine. I had three appetizers: the mushroom tart, the macaroni gratin, and the foie gras parfait. They were good but I can't say that I'm craving any of them enough to order them next time. I think I liked the parfait the best. I'm sure I'll go back at some point, but I won't be in a hurry to. read more

Went for brunch on a cold Saturday and the experience was great! The service was quick in both getting seated and getting our food. We loved the bread basket, the food we ordered and our coffee. We ordered Vietnamese coffee, a mushroom tart, salmon carpaccio, and poached egg basquaise. The coffee was the perfect amount of sweetness. The mushroom tart was bursting with flavor (just a little too heavy after eating everything else). The salmon carpaccio with the bread had a nice flavor and the poached egg dish was rich and creamy. The prosciutto on top helped balance the creamy taste of the polenta. The server was nice and made sure to check on us to make sure everything was good. I definitely recommend this place if you want a nicer brunch experience. read more

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

What a wonderful dining experience!! I had a fig cocktail that was seriously the best cocktail I've ever tasted. Complimentary bread and butter was a treat. Kind and knowledgeable server. Food was out of this world. French ambience is very special. Highly recommend!! read more

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We come to DC frequently for work and a friend recommended Le Diplomate and it did not disappoint. The setting is super unique and makes for some great people watching as the crowd is super eclectic. The location has obviously been around for a long time so have the appropriate expectations, this isn't five star dining but is great for what it is. The fresh made bread that greets you when you walk in is a very warm welcome and all super delicious. We sat at the bar for quick lunch before heading to the airport and shared a the French Onion Soup and a burger, both of which were great. We will definitely stop in again! read more

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