I love Le Sel. I had a great time; The host, Oscar, was also really friendly. My friends and I tried a few things off the menu: Steak and fries, Garden Salad with goat cheese, and fish served with rice. Everything was delicious my compliments to the chef!! And the cocktails were so good we got strawberry daiquiris shoutout Oscar! read more

We stayed at the Kimpton Banneker for 4 days and would eat breakfast and dinner here, and the food was great. I would recommend the Le Sel Burger and Scallops, along with the Passion Fruit lemonade and Pancakes. The service was great too, we didn't have to wait long at all for food, and everyone was very professional. But we'd be doing it a dishonor not to mention the people. We would sit at the bar and talk with one of the staff, Ricardo, and he was very friendly and was one of the best parts of the restaurant. We really enjoyed talking with him and the others, and it was a throughly great experience. Calling it an experience makes it sound so much more superficial, but they really were just talking to us like people would talk to people. The place's ambience was good too, especially in the mornings and late at night. They offer outdoor and indoor seating, along with booths, normal tables, and mixes between them. There was way more seats available then who we saw actually there, so it isn't hard at all to sit down and have a good meal. All and all, a great place to eat and talk to people, 5 stars is an understatement. read more

I had an amazing dinner here. The foie gras torchon was savory with the right amount of sweetness. I really enjoyed the cassoulet. The duck was delicious and I liked the beans and sauce it came with. The dessert sampler was great since I got to try a couple of different desserts. The cocktails here were great too. The restaurant had a cute bistro vibe with both indoor and outdoor access. read more

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We met a friend for dinner here last weekend. We tried the escargot - too salty with way too much finely chopped what tasted like basil. The green stuff was over powering, and we couldn't taste any garlic. However, our main courses were great. I had the lamb shank - it was a big one, the flavour was really good. My husband had the steak with fries - very good as well. My friend had the duck cassoulet, which I tasted some and seemed it the best tasting among the 3 selections. Service was very slow inspite of the nearly empty restaurant. The food gets a 4 star, but the service only gets a 2 star, therefore averaging out to a 3 star. read more

Le Sel - Braised lamb shank (left) with lentil & duck cassoulet (right) - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

What can I that I was heavily disappointed when I am inviting a huge amount of guests to be greeted with a sub par service and food quality that's is comparable to microwave dinner? We weee initially greeted and settle in with the group inside and it was quiet and slow Sunday evening. Then the service and quality just went downhill afterwards. We tried out the sea salt bread and I was appalled by the sheer size of the portions. Two orders of these for a table of 7. Not gonna suffice. Even the appetizer of grilled octopus is a joke. Other restaurants have bigger portion. This looks like a kids plate. Even the cheese plate wasn't explained what type of cheeses and small sliver of it. The duck confit and duck sausage platter was just a messy plate. I am appalled to see this as a well known ny recognized dish. Having to call other waiters to serve us water refill and provide a steak knife for those who order steak frites after 30 minutes. And waiting for one more steak frites so we can eat was just not cool. The steak I saw looked pretty burnt and charcoaled. Ya I shouldn't have followed opentable recommended suggestions and realize should try other things. Let's say there's better French restaurant than this. This is a ridicule for the cuisine. And who in the world charge gratuity tax?? read more

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WOW, I had an amazing meal at Le Sel! I actually came on Super Bowl Sunday and the restaurant was empty- really empty! It's such a beautiful space, and it turned out to be a joy to have it to ourselves. The service was exceptional, and the staff really know and understand the restaurant. They made great recommendations and generally just doted on us all night. The food is absolutely incredible. They clearly change their menu seasonally, and the warm, hearty dishes we enjoyed were perfect for a cold winter night. The star was the cassoulet, with duck sausage and delicious beans. I also loved the mushroom risotto, which really focused on the natural deliciousness of mushrooms. The golden tile fish was great, but my favorite part was the baby turnips. Winter root vegetables are heavenly in the right hands, and the perfectly cooked turnips were a sign that Le Sel is a great restaurant. We also enjoyed the sea salt tasting, which was so much fun. The different salts were all unique and a pleasure to sample. The dessert sampler was also exquisite, and as it comes with an espresso it was a great deal. I look forward to coming back in a different season and eating outside on their spacious patio. read more

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This place has no business being this good. And I was worried at first because the appetizers and initial service was slow and underwhelming. The reviews on here are real...service is slow and a little uncaring for sure. But Chef Silva ended up coming out and that is when the magic started. You could see from how passionate he was about the food that this restaurant was his little baby. He also told us his chefs were all trained from scratch by him and it made him believe in the group much more. Very endearing. Then the incredible entrees came out which made the appetizer look like they had been made by a different restaurant. The coq ah vin was incredible, the prawns were perfect, but the STARS of the show was the cassoulet (just a medley of duck, sausage, and pork) while the secret menu Parisian gnocchi proved to be perfectly crispy soft and doughy. I will for sure be back for these favorites, I hope more people try out the entrees and skip the apps. Well done Chef Silva! read more

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Ordered the steak frites 0/10. Cheap steak, was cooked well done not medium like requested. French Onion soup was good, the broccolini no. Only like one person working and it took forever even though there were 3 other people in here on a friday night. Don't recommend. read more

Le Sel - steak au poivre and frites. - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I had breakfast at Le Sel this morning. Service was excellent, however my breakfast choices were a miss. Coffee was good, the turkey sausage was fair, and the pancake (singular) was odd. I think it was French. It was very thick with lots of whipping cream. Lots. I probably should has asked more questions before I ordered. The pancake, turkey sausage and coffee came to about $32. Again, excellent service though. read more

Look at the pictures. The presentation says it all. Flavors were amazing! Pricey but worth it. Table for 2, no reservations needed, loud due to it being a hotel bar/restaurant. But the FOOD was everything. Parking is a bit of a nightmare but based on food alone! Yes, Yes, Yes We paid, $150 with tip for two. Not bad. On the higher end of dining without the elegant dining experience. read more

Service was excellent for brunch this Sunday. Very kind and attentive staff. The menu is limited for vegan options. I think the breakfast menu has more sides. We ordered the two options that were vegan or could be made that way: avocado toast sans eggs and the oatmeal. The toast was excellent and included sun dried tomatoes. The oatmeal was good, but not my favorite. Something with a grain or sweetener perhaps wasn't expected. This bright, window filled spot is located inside The Kimpton Banneker hotel. I know they have valet parking and what seem to be a few street spots. read more

Le Sel - Avocado toast (no egg) - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This is one of the better DC food experiences I have had but I am a bit confused with the ambiance of the place in general. Find out why?! From the looks of it Le Sel gives of old bougie American Diner vibe but the food tells a different story. The food doesn't really go with the ambiance of this place but the chef @ Le Sel definitely know what they are doing. The ousters appetizer was remarkable. So much added flavor brought that slurp *clears throat* to life. Yes it is a slurp sound, stop complaining. Grilled Octopus was perfect and just giving you so many flavor profiles. I would like to give the chef 10/10 just for how well this was cooked. My last dish was duck over lentils and this was amazing. I could not imagine masoor lentils tasting so well with the duck. 10/10 for creativity. Portions were small though. A big boy like me has a big stomach and that stomach wasn't half full. Service was top notch. The servers also get 10/10 Over all a really good food experience. Confused ambiance. 4.4 out of 5 I had to stop at Taco Bell after this... read more

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Decent food but service is memorably bad. Staying at the hotel but won't be back here through the rest of my stay. 2 chances is plenty

My husband and I came here for a date (rare these days with several little kiddos!) and were excited for some fine French food. We immediately were impressed with the decor. Classy and refined but not stuffy. We especially enjoyed the dark blue and white prints adorning the walls. Our food was mostly great. We had the French onion soup, the steak frites, and the catch of the day (which was rockfish on lavender butter potato puree with some other goodies). My husband requested medium rare for the steak but it arrived completely cooked through. Despite this, the steak had incredible flavor and was still quite tender, but it was a definite miss that it was overcooked. The fish was very lovely and the French onion soup was divine (isn't it always?!). Drinks are also great. Decent selection of wines and cocktails, from which we sampled both. My only big gripe is with the speed of service. Our waiter was quite nice but disappeared for astoundingly large periods of time. We eventually flagged down a busboy for our check after waiting about 15 minutes after finishing with no one in sight. If you have time to kill, though, not such a big deal. read more

One of the absolute best restaurants in all of DC and I do not say that lightly! First and foremost, the staff is incredible. Juan Carlos was exceptional! He is extremely knowledgeable about the menu, cocktails and wine including regions. There was never a moment that I did not have what I needed because he was always present and ensured I had everything I needed. The manager, Abass, was active throughout the restaurant. He checked in on tables, made sure they were having a good experience and worked alongside his team to create a seamless experience for all. I was most excited about the food though! Everything that I had was a 10 out of 10! From the presentation to the fresh ingredients to the superb flavor. Excellent, excellent, excellent!! The restaurant is beautifully designed with a great outdoor seating area and a lovely bar. It's not often that you find a hotel restaurant that knocks it out of the park, but this one is certainly worth a regular visit. read more

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Brett the manager is rude the service sucks and he thinks he's the vacation monitor. There are cockroaches in here!!! Don't ever come here!!

We came here for dinner and ordered five dishes plus 2 desserts. Delicious authentic French food with a modern twist. We ordered the French onion soup which was the best French onion soup I've ever ordered- onions that had texture- almost tasting like noodles in the soup, not too salty and delicious flavor made in lamb stock. Fraise salad which was light and had a delightful tarte dressing and lightly cooked egg in the middle. Beef carpacio (I don't know if I spelled that correctly) is a raw beef dish with a fried cheese crouton and a delightful sauce. I have NEVER tried raw beef but my French friend asked me to try it. Sooo amazing! We had an awesome corn based gnocchi dish that was actually fried and crispy. We also had this amazing potato, cheese and bacon dish which I can't remember the name of but it came sizzling in a pot. The winner winner chicken dinner was the creme brûlée we had for dessert. This take in creme brûlée had a raspberry compote, green tea and peach purée sauce sprinkled with matcha. This was delightful & I will absolutely be bringing my friends back for more. The chef came out at the end of the meal to make sure we enjoyed everything and explained a lot of our dishes which made us feel so special. Shoutout to chef Walter! You guys nailed it with this food. The only critique I have is to improve the decor of the place because it was giving me silver diner vibes. read more

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The bar at Le Sel had nice selection of unique drinks and beers. It's a quaint little bar with excellent service. The Province 75 was a nice recommendation not on the main menu. The DC Brau brew was a crisp Pilsner. read more

Le Sel - DC Brau Pilsner - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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When we arrived we were surprised this was a hotel restaurant. I don't mean that hotel restaurants aren't good but this one wasn't food wise. Our bartender tonight was great, she really knows how to make a fantastically good drink! The mussels were terrible. Half if them had been cooked so much they shrunk and got very dry. We writ here because of reviews. This place is not good for food. I'm giving it 2 stars only because the bartender was so good. read more

Came Saturday morning after a late Friday night out in DC and stumbled on the the Saturday brunch menu. I pass by the hotel all the time and stepped in the see if they were open for breakfast around 8a and I was pleasantly surprised. Service and staff were friendly and attentive and the smashed burger was delicious. The mimosa really topped off the meal. Can't wait to come back! read more

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Le Sel is a neighborhood gem. With uniformly excellent menu offerings and service, it comes as no surprise that guests rank this the #1 Kimpton hotel restaurant worldwide. The menu features French classics like coq au vin, and a standout cassoulet that recently won New York's "Cassoulet War." As an extended stay guest, I've tried all of the breakfast options. The french omelette (savory), served with a leafy green salad, and pain perdu (sweet) are my two favorites. The granola is a good lighter option, with a generous portion of granola, yogurt, and fresh fruit. And the croque monsieur hits the spot if you need savory comfort food hit that will carry you through a busy day. For weekend brunch, the trout in the trout salad is perfectly executed. Aaron, Nia, and Kia set the standard with their warmth, hospitality, and consistently excellent service. It really is a pleasure to start the day with them. read more

Fantastic atmosphere and service... as expected being a hotel restaurant. The place is advertised to be approachable French. Got me curious what that would mean so we decided to check it out. Escargot was soaked in butter and some braised greens. A little bit bland but I actually don't like it salty so it fits the bill. The only reason for one less star was because of the wine... I ordered plainly Grigio and it tasted old unfortunately. Over all, still recommend for Sunday brunch read more

Le Sel - Snail cause I can't pronounce escargot lol - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Good food nice atmosphere. The french fries can be improved a bit as well the Béarnaise sauce that is lacking some thickness in my view.

4 stars with potential for 5 Came in with 3 others for restaurant week. $55 got us 3 courses (great deal). Everything I ordered was delicious - the escargot was well cooked and seasoned, plus the baguette was fabulous (5/5). I'm not a big blue cheese fan, but the roquefort wasn't too overpowering and paired perfectly with the filet mignon. The filet mignon was served with a side of mushrooms and broccolini, and the dish felt like a great serving size - it wasn't too big, but it didn't leave me hungry. I will say 3 of us got the filet mignon, however, 2 of the 3 felt like their meat was undercooked. I tend to like my steaks on the rare side, so this wasn't an issue for me, however, the mediums definitely looked more medium rare/rare. The vanilla ice cream in the peach melba was delicious, although I wasn't overly impressed with this dessert. The menu says there's a lavender meringue, but I didn't taste the meringue or get the texture. The peaches were all on the bottom and felt like they came from a pre-packaged grocery store jar. Don't get me wrong, it was tasty, but not overly impressive and not a 5 star dessert; it felt like something I could put together at home. The service was attentive and all the waitstaff were incredibly friendly. Le Sel is a cute spot and a great addition to the neighborhood; all in all I would come back. read more

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Hubby & I stopped here for a quick night cap on a late Friday night & we enjoyed the quiet lounge vibes & excellent service. The bartender (also our server) made our drinks custom to our respective taste preferences, which were superbly made. read more

Le Sel - Delicious cocktails - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Food is good once you get it after an hour of waiting. Service team needs to be trained. Had dinner last night and breakfast this morning to give it one more try. The word I would use is agonizing. Too many good to great options in the DC area to experience without this lack of professionalism at this restauran. read more

Lovely service and meal/cocktails. You can tell that it's still new but they are only going to get better and better. We enjoyed the classic onion soup, escargot, fresh garden tartine, and filet mignon. The escargots were divine- my new favorite in DC. Don't miss out on dessert, the creme brûlée is now in my top 3. read more

Le Sel - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Service was terrible ... completely disorganized... people standing around Food was ok ... but so basic ... Ambiance was good read more

Drinks were inconsistent - a friend and I ordered the same thing and they were made very differently. The menu is very small and dishes were not well described. My crab hash under "hearty dishes" was basically an appetizer size, while the crab was good quality there was nothing in it besides a small egg and a couple pieces of radish. It came with crostini that was extremely hard and I couldn't even bite it. And the service really could be improved- my table was left dirty after my plate was cleared, and I was never given (or offered) a refill of water over 2 hours there. read more

The food was some of the best I've had in the DMV. The service was impeccable! I loved everything I tried. I can't wait to come here again. read more

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Good was ok, the staff was very lethargic, slow to move. They serve you good and they disappear. I asked for mustard with my food. Food was served with no mustard. I had to stand up and look for the waiter to ask for the mustard. Note, bread and butter are not offered on the house, you pay for it here. read more

We recently stayed at The Kimpton Banneker. Our stay included breakfast every morning and it DID NOT DISAPPOINT!! The staff were incredible with service and such personal care, we felt like family. Ricardo, Emma, Abbas and the rest of the staff made our stay at the Banneker so special. We will definitely be back. I highly recommend the Pain Perdu!! read more

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If you want to briefly visit France????? Go here. Immediately. I got the steak and escargot - LOVED! Our waiter was great and paired our meals with a perfect wine and it has a very intimate atmosphere:) read more

Two words: food poisoning. Literally came out both ends and that was before I even managed to leave the restaurant. Also, waited 45 minutes to even have a waiter greet us. The manager served us and even his service was terrible. Will not be back. read more

This was a hidden gem for us after spending a night at the kimpton for a weekend getaway. The brunch was delicious! And ambiance great with the dj and outdoor seating. The service especially from the manager and servers were great. We just had one server who I think had a friend Their and wasn't as attentive. But overall great experience. read more

I have no complaints about the food or ambience. There are better French restaurants in DC though. The service was okay but not great. What angered me was that I was charged automatically a 20% gratuity even though I was only one person. What's more I was charged tax on my involuntary tip. This tip inflation and overcharging is OBSCENE! read more

The food is pretty good but not great. It's too salty, for one thing. The name of the restaurant translates to "salt". They should ease off and provide salts in case you think it needs it. Other than that, the food is pretty good, service is decent but not great, the ambiance is good but nothing special. I stayed at the hotel and ate here for bfst once and dinner once because of the convenience. I would not have eaten here otherwise and even if I stay at the hotel in the future, probably won't eat here except for the convenience. read more

I stayed at this hotel for work like 13 years ago and it did not have a bar. I've lived here for several years now and the remodel is gorgeous, but more importantly, the cocktails and food are amazing. Recommend the First Principle, Like a Monet, Last Word - all amazing cocktails. Our mixologist, Morgan, was so so sweet and even her experimental drinks were delicious!! My friend and I also tried the Classic Onion Soup and Fresh Garden Tartine; both are excellent. The fava beans with the costini are to die. I also think their rooftop is opening soon! Do yourself a favor and come support this bar/restaurant - your tastebuds won't be disappointed! read more

Le Sel - Jean Paul Sartre cocktail - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

La duck cassoulet was super rich and incredibly flavorful and delicious perfect to share. the heirloom tomatoes, mousse, and Brie were all delicious. Juan our server was very attentive and helped us celebrate my father birthday. read more

Food quality is always great. Vintage, shabby-chic ambiance. We got seated very quickly but service was quite slow and underwhelming. Overheard that our seated neighbors were offered to have part of their meal comped for waiting so long. However, my daughter and I had been waiting longer than them; we were seated at least 20 minutes prior and our waiter still had not taken our food order. Otherwise, coffee was good and meal was nice. read more