Le Diplomat offers a delightful dining experience with many standout dishes, daily specials that are exceptional, and a lively ambiance. The French onion soup was a great way to start, featuring generous cheese and perfectly cooked onions that didn't fill me up too much before my main entrée. The duck was phenomenal, perfectly cooked and complemented wonderfully by a delicious citrus sauce. The complementary bread was ideal for soaking up the flavors and also included a nice dried fruit and nut bread and addition to French bread The non-alcoholic beverage selection could be more diverse beyond sodas, especially with mocktails. Their extensive wine list and cocktails are impressive and my friend loved their grapefruit cocktail. Even on a Wednesday night, our 8:30 PM reservation was required because it was packed (but in a way that you knew that the restaurant was good and you weren't sitting on top of another party)! The restaurant was lively with celebratory vibes. It's a great spot for enjoying excellent food amidst a vibrant ambiance. read more

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

I met up with a good friend at Le Diplomate for lunch. The atmosphere is busy as expected. The host greeted me with a big smile that immediately made me feel welcomed. We ordered the escargot, raw oysters, warm shrimp salad, and steak frites. The waitress offered bottled sparkling, still, or tap water. We settled for the sparkling pellegrino water and two glasses of Malbec wine. The food arrived to our table quickly and everything tasted great. My steak frites was cooked to perfection. My friend thoroughly enjoyed the warm shrimp salad. The escargot were buttery and a tad salty but tasty. We did not order dessert because we were stuffed. I plan on returning soon so try a couple of different options. Le Diplomate offers a first class dining experience that is hard to find these days. read more

See all

Wow, Sunday brunch was not great. Our server was so very slow, we were surprised he was training someone. He never introduced himself or his trainee. We started with water and juice, after that we waited a true 20 minutes to order our food! I asked the trainee if we could order because I could never get waiters attention. Trainee just walked away, said nothing. The onion soup was a disappointment, all broth w/ no onions and not much flavor. My Chicken Paillard with salad was extremely salty, not enjoyable. Sad to see service and food slacking. Note: A table of 5 seated after us ate brunch and left before us. Oh, and it was difficult getting our bill to the table too! We had to ask twice! read more

See all

I came here years ago, when it was new and super trendy. It was amazing back then, but I haven't been back until last weekend, for a pre-theater brunch. I wasn't sure how it would age - it can be hard for a place to stay so good for so long! But let me tell you, it was just as good as before! The food was delicious, our server was lovely and perfectly attentive without being annoying, and the interior is timeless. We had the steak tartare to start, which was divine. I had the mussels which were probably the best I've ever had, and my husband had the duck confit - to die for. It was such a lovely meal, we won't wait years to return! read more

See all

I'd heard great things about Le Diplomate and have wanted to try the restaurant for a while, and I must say that the hype is real. We visited for brunch on a Saturday and sat on the patio, and brunch was delightful. Even better was that the restaurant was all ready for the Pride Parade that goes by the restaurant, which was fun and festive. Here are the brunch items we tried: -Bread basket: They brought out the complimentary bread basket with three types of bread, and I really liked the cranberry walnut bread--so delicious! -Eggs benedict: The eggs benedict may have been the best eggs benedict I've ever had. The ham felt like it was freshly shaved off the bone, and even the side of breakfast potatoes was great. -Chocolate croissant: Just lovely: great texture, temperature, everything. -French fries: I also took a bite of my friend's french fries, and they were great! They were more of the thin (but not shoestring?) variety, very good. Le Diplomate is a wonderful restaurant: great food, ambience, and service! read more

Slight disappointed with them because they are usually on point. The group started with French onion soup, beet's salad and tuna carpaccio. The tuna was outstanding, even the beets were great with the crème fresh. For dinner we had the NY strip cooked rare it was delicious, steak frites was very good. Coq au vin was good but a very small portion. The issue was the beef bourguignon which is a signature dish of there's and it was so hard, tough, and tasted old. read more

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

Le Diplomate is a DC institution that is as universally loved as it is considered to be "overhyped". For me I truly do enjoy it. I would have to say that my favorite dishes are the escargot, the warm shrimp salad, the pot de creme, and the profiteroles. I also like the mussel, lobster or steak frites; with my only complaint being the cut of steak being a hanger/skirt which is typical for this dish, but it has the tendency to be a bit chewy. Overall the restaurant has a fun French vibe and with seasonal specials there are often new things to try, with my favorite seasonal special being a pea and crab soup (yes it doesn't sound appetizing, but it is really good). Solid food, nice staff, a bit pricey and expect a wait especially during brunch (make a reservation!!) read more

See all

So, when my sister got there they informed her that they were running behind. (I booked this place for one of my bday restaurants to try since it's been on my list) our reservations were at 14:45 and brunch is over at 15:00. But they granted us 15 more minutes to order brunch. They say is outside but I believe I wanted to be seated indoors but we were very hungry. I didn't like that we were seated on the 14th st. Side because we didn't get the attention we needed. Our first order of drinks were 45 minutes late and the bread was late coming out too. The server told us it would take 15 minutes for our food to come out but came out a little late. The food was delicious so that's why I'm giving them a 4.0 out of 5. I understand they were late and they apologized numerous of times and everyone were really nice. The only thing I didn't like about the French toast is that it's been sitting for a while so the strawberries on top made the bread a little soggy. I love and the Mac was spectacular! When I visit again I want to be seated inside so I can get the full French experience. I love the decor of this restaurant. read more

Le Diplomate - Escargot, Macaroni Au Gratin, French Toast, steak and eggs, turkey links, omelette and drinks - Brasseries Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Excellent food across the board - eggs Benedict eggs Norwegian and the French toast. Even a cup of black coffee was amazing read more

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

Great experience here. Food always delivers and great customer service. I'm always happy to go back.

I'm not really sure what the fuss is about this place l, it was just ok. We went for brunch. Ambiance is good - lots of indoor and outdoor seating. We split a salad for an app. It was pretty good. The omelette was nothing special, could've been from any hotel in the world. I asked for mayo with my fries and it never came. It was warmer today and water refills were not frequent enough. Wine list is extensive and I would love to drink my way through it. I will go back for dinner and try that menu to see if it's any better. read more

See all

Ambiance - This place is absolutely stunning! There is indoor seating, covered outdoor seating, and an outdoor patio. They even have valet parking for $12 as of the day of this review. Food - So rich. So good. I splurged and got the lobster frites. Yes, honey! So good and flavorful. I want to go back when it's cooler and get the beef bourguignon. Service - The service aligned with everything else. Our server was good at suggesting every course we got and answered all of our questions. I rarely visit the same place twice because there's so many restaurants I want to cover, but this spot warrants a repeat visit! read more

See all

service was good MUSSELS 4/5 Croque madam 5/5 gotta get that stuff man it was nice no matter what if you're hungry get it i don't do descriptions of food really it's either you trust me or you don't mousse 3/5 fries 3/5 read more

See all

My friends and I made reservations for this place for lunch on a Monday afternoon. We were seating swiftly and our server greeted us welcomely. Their complimentary bread was delicious. Although the food seemed like it was taking forever to come out our appetizers came right away. The ambiance was very mellow and nice. Assorted oysters 5/5 The oysters were fresh and was soooo good Escargot 4/5 Really garlicky but smelled so good and cooked perfectly Beef Bourguignon 4.9/5 The sauce and beef was delicious and cooked nicely. the mash potatoes were good but a bit too buttery Steak frites 5/5 The cook on the steak was chefs kiss and the fries was perfect. The garlic butter was seasoned perfectly too Trout Amandine 5/5 The trout was crispy and juicy and the sauce was AMAZING. The almonds and string beans texture complimented the whole dish so well. Overall 10/10 experience! We were always checked upon and the food was really good. read more

See all

I've been here many times, including 2 in the past week alone. Unfortunately, both experiences this week have been extremely disappointing in the service department. Both times, our waiters virtually disappeared during the service, messed up the order, or forgot items. Yesterday during brunch, our waiter who had another waiter next to him at all times, forgot a drink, brought a wrong drink, and was so slow that we were there for two hours during brunch for two courses. The food here is consistently good, but it's disappointing to see the service decline to this level. read more

5 days in DC and this was our favorite spot. Great food, AWESOME service, and the atmosphere was upbeat. Wish we had time to stop back in, next time! read more

Le Dip is always a great time! I've been a few times before, but this was my first time for brunch. The pancakes, Croque Madame, and salmon carpaccio were the highlights for us! We sat under the covered patio and the atmosphere was perfect, like a real French cafe! read more

See all

Had lunch with a friend and our server was Nate. Food and Service were outstanding. Location and ambiance are fantastic especially on a nice day. Don't forget to have dessert! read more

See all

All - around excellent brunch. Though we did arrive perhaps 10 minutes ahead of reservation and were made to wait those ten minutes by the front door despite there being a lot of staff and a number of still empty tables . Oh well . Onward / upward . For the hour or so we were here it was a mini transport back to Paris - with nicer service . Tim is a very good waiter . I liked having beer options not readily available and tried both a Belgian and French offering . Good coffee . The bread basket that came out was ooh la la . We took some back to the hotel . He added extra butter . My Gruyère omelet was perfectly light and fluffy and my wife's croque madam - without ham was a toothsome delight . Nice orange nice . Love the atmosphere here ! read more

We were in town for Mother's Day to visit our daughter, and she made a reservation for us at this restaurant. We had a 5:45 reservation and were quickly seated even though the restaurant was completely full. We started with drinks and appetizers. We had oysters, onion soup, and a charcuterie board. The charcuterie board had three types of meats, pate, grilled bread, and pickles. For entrees we had steak au poive, duck la orange, escargot and mussels. Everything was delicious. We fortunately saved room for dessert and it's a good thing we did. The cream Brule was delicious, but the profiteeolls was a magical presentation with hot chocolate sauce poured over it at the table. A magical evening! read more

See all

Beautiful ambience. Service a bit disorganized but fine. Quite literally, the loudest restaurant I have ever been in my life. So loud that the meal was ruined. As a side note, the food was terribly over seasoned and rich. I have visited Paris many times and never had food so rich. In summary, way way too loud and not great food. Didn't live up to the hype. read more

Great food, amazing ambiance and location. Service is good too. highly recommend for dates read more

See all

Wow this place was crazy busy on a Saturday night so we had high expectations. Thankfully we were able to be seated right away outside. On one side of the building they have regular outside seating and then on the other side they have a structure where they've expanded out into the street with those new structures with plastic curtains. But these were new to me because each section is private. So my husband and I had our own private little room to eat. Service was a little slower than we're used to but I let it slide based on the activity I saw inside. We ordered a shrimp cocktail to start and they also brought a basket of various breads. They were cold and I wish they would have been warmed but we enjoyed them anyways. My favorite by far was the brown one with fruits and nuts baked in. Fantastic. For our entrees we ordered the Steak Au Poivre (pepper crusted New York strip that came in a delicious sauce), and the Grilled Branzino (with gigantic beans and tapenade). Everything was delicious and we left full. read more

I had a wonderful dinner here. The oysters and steak frites were good. I really liked the foie gras parfait. It had a nice subtle flavor and the bread went well with it. I also really liked the duck a l'orange. It was very tasty and cooked well. All the drinks were good too. I liked my old fashioned and espresso martini. The waiter was very friendly and helpful. The restaurant also had a warm, cozy ambiance. I would definitely recommend this restaurant for French food. read more

See all

When planning our trip to DC, Le Dip was at the top of my list due to the extensive positive reviews that I've seen both on Yelp and other social media platforms. The hype definitely got me, so I was eager to make a reservation. I booked on Open Table far in advance, which was easy. We made it right on time for our 8:15pm reservation and we're baffled by how busy it was. I could imagine that it's either impossible to do a walk-in or would expect high wait times. We were seated immediately, which was nice, however our table was very crowded and uncomfortable. It was a half booth squeezed in a corner with a very uncomfortable chair on the other side, right in the middle of a busy walkway. Multiple times, there were strollers that went by which couldn't fit through, so I had to move out of the way for them. Definitely wasn't a comfortable, relaxing experience. Service was also subpar. Although our server was efficient, he made us feel somewhat inferior. When asking what a specific French dish was, I was greeted with a subtle eye roll. When asking for wine list suggestions, we were only given recommendations far above our budget and steered away from ones that were within. Over and over again, this occurred. I couldn't quite tell if he was doing this purposefully, but it didn't enhance our experience. Food and drinks were good. I had an Aperol Spritz which was nicely made and the espresso martini was pretty good. For an appetizer, I got the Steak Tartare which was my favorite thing of the night. I chose the Warm Shrimp Salad as my entree which was nice and refreshing but highly overpriced at about $30 for 4 shrimp and lettuce. The ravioli was also a whopping $30 for plain cheese ravioli. Overall, I think this place could have been a 5 star experience for me with different service and a more comfortable table, however that wasn't the case. Food was 4 stars, the rest was 2. I think leaving 3 stars overall is a good representation. read more

See all

The food here is delicious. I was excited to try it out because I've heard great things about Starr restaurants. Came here for brunch to celebrate my husband's birthday. It was busy but we had a reservation so we were seated right away. He ordered the steak frites ($36). I ordered the Duck Sarladaise ($18). Both dishes were full of flavor and got a 10/10 from us. Steak was well seasoned and cooked to a perfect medium rare. The fries were also well seasoned and crispy. As for the duck, it just melted in my mouth. I never had duck confit before. The dish was pretty decadent with the egg, potatoes and sauce so if you're looking for something lighter, might want to go with something else. But for me, it was the perfect brunch dish. We also got a bread basket. I liked the variety of breads although I can't remember the different kinds. All were good to me. Loved the interior -- got a kick out of the walls in the bathroom! The service was also quick despite it being busy. Our server even brought out a small treat for my husband for his birthday. It was a great experience overall - would definitely come here again! read more

See all

Since being home, I find myself thinking back to the amazing food experiences I had in Washington DC. On that list is most certainly Le Diplomate. I came across this restaurant on social media and I was so glad I did. The French bistro is a chance to step into a different culture and gives you an opportunity to truly appreciate the ambience of the space, the friendliness of the staff, and the freshness of all of the dishes. I mean, look at this fresh baked bread that comes to every table. We had to go with their famous French onion soup and split the curry chicken salad sandwich on fresh baked cranberry and walnut bread. Whether you are taking in this restaurant in the dining room or in one of their adorable individual outdoor spaces, you need to make a reservation and enjoy. I can't wait to go back and try a different dish. read more

See all

Amazing AMAZING restaurant! This place is truly incredible from the wonderful waitstaff to the beautiful ambiance and fresh and delicious food! Everything that came out was incredible and fresh and honestly just some of the best French foods I've ever had. The staff was very attentive and knowledgeable about the dishes and brought out the dishes efficiently. I really can't recommend this restaurant enough, there's a reason it's so popular! read more

See all

Excellent food and service! Loud but manageable. There was no rush to move us out fast, we were very comfortable!

This restaurant is the reason why people go out to eat. Classy, indulgent, hospitable. The decor in the restaurant makes you feel like you hopped into a time machine and popped out in Paris. Well, I hope you came hungry and right after pay day... You come here for the experience and to be wined and dined! This is the place to go. The French onion soup was to die for. The table bread basket contains 3 types of bread. The tuna carpaccio with fennel vinaigrette is a delicacy! The shrimp salad contained frisée lettuce! What a treat. The module frites come in a very tasty broth. All around- this restaurant is the stuff of dreams. Go for your next celebration or big family event. It is certainly worth a visit while in Georgetown. Reservations are hard to come by so don't expect to book last minute! read more

See all

Excellent place. We went for lunch. Service was fast, friendly and extremely attentive: my water glass was always full, I got a new coke before I finished the first one, finished plate were removed quickly when done. Our waiter was really on top of it. A gentleman with glasses, give him a raise ;-) Food was great, we had ricotta raviolis, onion soup and steak frite. Everybody was happy. I took the profiteroles, they were good but feedback for the chef: les choux peuvent être améliorés et il y a trop de chocolat et on ne sent plus la vanille. On top of that the place is really good looking. Highly recommended restaurant. Tips: Google says they close at 3PM but they are open. I let the waiter know so that they can correct that. read more

See all

Classic DC staple and a must try for any visitors. Came here with my wife for dinner to check it out and we were definitely satisfied with our experience. Pros: classic French bistro atmosphere with outdoor seating and classy interior. Bread basket was fresh and had nicely warmed butter which is often overlooked by other dinner places. The truffle pie is delicious and had a very flaky crust. The duck de l'orange was so tender and perfectly cooked. Cons: quite busy so make a reservation! Service can be a little slower in busy weekend nights. Definitely try this place out for an authentic French bistro experience. read more

See all

Pros: organized enough with wait staff and our server was on top of all our requests, and very patient and friendly. Location in Logan circle is also a positive if you want to meet up in a place in DC. Cons: too many people with too much noise. It was just too loud. The table behind us had a bunch of very loud people drinking more and more wine and saying louder and louder things across the table to each other. There are some places with a cozier vibe and this is not it. Also, I'm not very into French food because I can usually taste the butter or cream-richness feeling. But the thing is this isn't really French food but more of a French theme with American adaptions. It's costly to eat here but the cost is what it is these days in DC. So not exactly impressed - I think if you like American styled French food and a lot of options for wine you probably like this place. It's just like you can get this food anywhere in certain pedigrees or even cook similar items yourself. read more

Overall tasty food I would return. The highlight was the escargot and oysters we got as appetizers. This was my first time getting escargot and it was really tasty. It comes out very hot so let it cool for a bit or you'll burn your tongue. I got the medium rare duck for my entree and it was good. I wish it came with a side or something because I started getting tired of the flavor, but the duck itself was made very well. Great texture and flavor. read more

See all

If I could give this place six stars, I would. A friend was having a milestone birthday, so I made a Sunday brunch reservation. We arrived about 15 minutes early, and they seated us early. When you enter, it is like walking into a bistro in Paris. The service was impeccable. We started with two mimosas and then ordered appetizers (the little gougere cheese puffs are outstanding, and my friend had a yogurt parfait). I ordered the Poached Eggs Basquaises which were amazing. My friend ordered the Norwegian eggs with a side of a pancake. They bring out a bread basket with a trio of delectable breads. Our server checked in on us every few minutes. I had put on the reservation that it was a special birthday, so they brought out a tiny dessert with a candle. Perfect brunch from start to finish! read more

See all

The food , service and ambiance is amazing! It was a must since we love French food. We had Rudy as our server and he was so accommodating and suggested the best and most popular hors d'oeuvres and entrees for us. Our water glasses were always full and the food was paced out so perfectly. The restaurant is huge and they are always turning tables! So glad a coworker recommended this spot, which is funny because after I saw it on two different recommendations as a top DC restaurant. We will gladly recommend it to all of our friends and would love to come back! Also we did not indulge, but their wine selections are vast and come by the bottle or glass-next time! read more

See all

What a wonderful experience! Loved the busy, buzzy feel of this restaurant. It was so difficult to choose what to order. The onion soup and mussels did not disappoint. Portions were generous and I couldn't even finish the mussels. I really wanted to take the leftover broth with me - it was so good! Service was decent considering how busy they were. Would definitely return here when I'm in DC again. read more

See all

Very poor Mangement. Manger is very rude and racist. It's seems like he only like to serve white's . We ask the serve to bring us some bread and he ask permission form manage and he said no to him . When I reach out to him and ask him why you didn't serve us the bread first and bring the table who just sit down after us and brought them a bread , His answer was they orders drinks. He just lied and don't want us to be there . We left very disappointed. I will never go there again. read more

I've done many day trips to DC from my home base in Orlando and each time I'm here I seek restaurants I've never been to before. This time on my short list was Le Diplomate and I'm glad I made this selection. I flew in Sunday morning and I made my way directly to the restaurant for brunch. Since it was still early in the day, even without a reservation, I was seated promptly in an indoor/outdoor covered patio area. I was then greeted by the wonderful and friendly server, Ayla, who provided helpful recommendations throughout my meal. I opted for the Eggs Benedict which came with perfectly poached eggs and a hollandaise sauce with just the right amount of tartness. Paired with a glass of champagne, this was a delicious start to a crisp and sunny Washington morning. To the end the meal, I chose their Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee which came with a warm, delicate, and buttery madeleine. I could only finish half the dessert but, the half I did have was certainly appreciated. For such a highly-rated French restaurant, I expected equally steep prices however, for the ambiance, service and food received the prices are a veritable bargain. I look forward to treating friends and family to this gem of a restaurant next time I'm in the nation's capital. read more

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

See all

Le Diplomate is not all it is hyped-up to be. But despite the condescending staff, the atmosphere and food make coming worth it. We've had some great food here. My favorite dish is by far their jambon beurre baguette, which they have unfortunately taken off the menu. The French onion soup, chicken curry sandwich, and summer pea soup are also fantastic. The burger américain is also a solid choice - a dressed up Big Mac that really tastes like a fancy Big Mac. Most of their food is quite delicious, but certainly not the best. They are so condescending, it is painful. The wait staff is not friendly. If you arrive without a reservation when they just opened and are completely empty, they will sneer at you for asking to sit inside when it is twenty degrees outside. If you tell them that something is wrong with your food (don't get the steak) they are quite rude about it. They act as if they have a Michelin star but they can't even cut a bib gourmand. As the French say, "Péter haut que son cul!" And their prétention is unwarranted. For example, don't order steak. As great as it sounds and looks, they don't understand how to cook steak. Having tried the steak frites and the steak au poivre on different occasions, both arrived undercooked and unrested. You have to rest a steak. When I sent the steak frites back (a $36 lunch item) not only were they extremely rude but they brought it back cooked beyond well done - a leathery brick. On a weekend, you need to either make a reservation or show up right when they open. Otherwise, you will be waiting for a long time. They do not reserve all of their indoor tables, so if you show up right when they open you will be seated. The French brasserie decor makes the atmosphere very enjoyable. This is a great spot for both a special occasion or casual lunch. Overall, worth visiting - but don't set your expectations too high. read more

See all