This place was wonderful. Just what I wanted for my birthday brunch. They take reservations for parties up to 8 people - but I had asked if it was possible for a party of 10. Had confirmed in emails. Showed up a little bit early because I had a few things I wanted to put on the table and also wanted to get a bottle of bubbly for everyone to have a welcome drink. Worked out because somehow they didn't have my reservation on the books! Eek. But they quickly scrambled to put the table together and got me a lovely glass of bubbly while I waited for my guests. The place is adorable. Has the right amount of contemporary & vintage mixed with a lovely french flair. I was originally swayed by this place because of pictures of their ostrich feather chandeliers. They did not disappoint in person. Its in the Brookland neighborhood - so a bit off the hustle & bustle of the downtown DC vibe - but a nice change of pace. Easy parking. Cute corner location. Sebastian (the manager) and Nick (our server) were both absolutely lovely. Customer service extraordinaire. The food was so delicious. I got the Cote de Boeuf - essentially short rib with hashbrowns in a pot pie with a fried egg on top. I had several French 75s - one of my favorite drinks. You can screw up a French 75 - but they did not - theirs was delicious. My friends ordered everything from the Croque Madame to the French Onion Soup - all were quite satisfied with their selections. Will definitely be back & plan to tell others to go! read more

Polite service and the brussel sprouts were very good. The rest of the food was average. They only had three beer choices and none were anything I would pick. You would think they would have at least one Pilsner available. The duck was rubbery. Fries came without any sauce or ketchup. We spent about $115 per person. It wasn't bad but I wouldn't go back. read more

Primrose is an absolute gem. The decor is beautiful, the service is wonderful, and the food is really delicious. My boyfriend and I have been there once before, and we sat at the bar for dinner and drinks. We recently returned for Mother's Day Brunch. The table was not quite ready when we arrived, but we were offered a round of mimosa's on the house -- quite a nice touch. Although the restaurant was busy and our waiter was stretched thin, he was very responsive and attentive. We will definitely be going back! read more

The decor is top notch. The details are beautiful and eye catching. The hostess was very friendly. Our party arrived and were able to secure seating at one of the communal tables. I was thrilled because it was under the gorgeous ostrich feather chandeliers. We had delicious organic wine. The French onion soup was delightful (not beef based). The vegetable side dishes were so good. My friends had the short ribs. I had the coq au vin chicken which was so tender. Peter was an excellent server. He made sure we had great service. The staff is outstanding. The prices are affordable and the food is memorable. There are way more dishes we want to try. They had the coolest high chairs I've ever seen. Sebastian gave us some amazing wine selections. Victor made sure we had everything we needed. It was a fabulous and will be back! read more

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I got the French onion soup and the French toast. I would say they were both decent but not great. The service was really good. My mom got the egg Benedict and she loved it. My friend had the burger and she was happy with it. The restaurant itself is really cute and ideal for "the gram" read more

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I couldn't recommend this place more! Out whole experience was nothing short of phenomenal. Our waiter was great! Everyone we interacted with was wonderful. The food... Wow! Everything we ordered was amazing. The wine was also delicious. We ordered the brussels sprouts and Mac and cheese for appetizers. When I saw I could eat those brussels sprouts everyday I mean it. For entrees we ordered steak frites, the burger, and mushroom gnocchi - all would order again. And even though we couldn't find room for dessert we ordered it anyway knowing it would be delicious. We ordered the Panna Cotta and it was so creamy and tasty. read more

This place is amazing! Food is fresh and delicious! While there is only outdoor seating it's worth the visit

We love the special Grilled Duck liver with mushroom and peach source the most. We also like Brussels sprouts.

This is a great spot if you're looking to get out of the city center! Centered in the NW part of DC is this hidden retro gem. They have old silent movies playing in the back that gives the atmosphere a cool touch. My friend and I shared the betteraves beets & cheese dish pictured and I went with the rockfish for my entree. Both were paired with amazing sauces and were complimentary if you would like to pair with one of their amazing wine selections! read more

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Very beautiful ambiance for brunch and the service is very nice. The food is your typical brunch food so nothing special but it was great!

Wonderful and very good. We had the Shawarma chicken and the brussels sprouts. Also, have a lovely wine. The ambience is fantastic, the service is wonderful, the food is delicious, and the ability to relax is unprecedented. read more

I tried this place because of the reviews but it was extremely underwhelming. My French toast was undercooked, soggy in the middle. The honey butter was just regular butter with honey lightly drizzled on top :( all in all the food just wasn't that good. read more

I've been hearing about Primrose for ages and was determined to get there on my next trip to DC. The restaurant has an intimate, comfortable feel and immediately felt welcome. Our server was amazing and very attentive - he made great wine recommendations throughout the evening. Ordered the French onion soup, steak frites, and chocolate pot de Creme - all outstanding. read more

Hate to give this review because the place is super cute and a welcome addition to the neighborhood. Perhaps I had an off night? Arrived with 2 friends for dinner and got seated right away. Our waiter greeted us and was super friendly. But he never came back....he kept stopping by briefly to tell us he'd be over in a minute and that he was swamped but kept running by us when we kept trying to flag him down (just an average night...dining room 60%full). I finally got up and literally asked another server if we could order some drinks and our food as it had been 20 minutes (not exaggerating) since we sat down. Nothing any of us got was that greet unfortunately. I had the steak frites and it was just fine. Not bad, not spectacular and my friends felt the same about the burger and the fish. One positive was that the 1 Liter carafe of rose was a great deal! All in all It wasn't a good enough experience to come back, especially since I live across town. Perhaps if I lived in the area I would stop in again, if nothing else to have a drink at the bar! read more

My husband and I decided to do takeout from Primrose tonight and we're so happy that we did! After reading the reviews we decided to split the burger which came with a generous portion of perfectly fried french fries and a salad with a delicious light dressing. We added on the mac & cheese which was to die for. It was the perfect portion for both of us and we even have a little bit left over although I have a feeling it won't be here for long. I neglected to take pictures because we dove right in immediately! The burger was cooked perfectly to our request and the caramelized onion jam and cheese was a unique but very delicious combination. I am not a fan of french fries but I really enjoyed these thick cut fries. You absolutely must order the mac & cheese! So glad we found you Primrose! read more

W O W!! We just had my bridal shower here and it was the perfect place for an event. I highly recommend having your next book club, Christmas party, birthday, bridal shower, baby shower here. They did an amazing job with the food, the service was impeccable (NATE!! You rock.), and the owner was very responsive. It couldn't have gone better and everyone who attended is excited to return! Thank you, Primrose! read more

Amazing food. Great drinks. Pandemic friendly. I arrived ahead of my reservation time and was seated in a heated outdoor where I awaited the others in my party. Since it was my first visit, Peter gave me some insight on the menu. I ordered a hot toddy and it was amazing! Brandon (who made the drink and also served our table) is really great! Brandon gave good recommendations and highlighted the subtle nuances between the different dishes. In terms of food, I loved the cheese plate and branzino! So good. If you have a chance, make a reservation and give it a try! read more

Very high quality, The scallops were so delightfully tender! staff is professional and polite.

We showed up at the time of our reservation and requested a table indoors as it was 40 degrees out. We were told no at first despite half the restaurant being empty. And then they said we could but we'd only have one hour to eat. We agreed we could eat quickly. There was no option on the reservation form to choose indoor or outdoor. We had no idea though that our dinner would take an hour to prepare. We got the first two bites in of our $200 dinner and were left with the check. No option for dessert or coffee and table literally cleared and wiped down while we were still sitting there. The food was good, though wish we had time to eat it and that it wasn't overly salty. read more

Finally made it out to Primrose, and it did not disappoint! The restaurant is beautiful and set in the growing Brookland neighborhood. The service from the minute we sat down was outstanding. We started with the French onion soup, and I couldn't put the spoon down. It was magnifique! Then, the soft shell crab with corn pudding and fiddleheads. I'm a sucker for SSC and this was what I was looking for! Then we ordered the duck l'orange. I'm not usually a duck person but this was cooked so beautifully, I may be a fan now. The accompanying crepe was so good too. I'd order that on its own next time! Overall, fantastic experience. Thanks Primrose! read more

Primrose - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Went for lunch on a Saturday, and had a great experience. Beautiful decor - blue walls, feather lamps. The croque madame was a zillion times better than the diplomate's tasteless attempt at the dish. The accompanying salad was spicy and delicious - and I'm the kind of person who usually finds salad to be a waste of time - and the potatoes were moist and flavorful. read more

Primrose - Croque mon - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

After reading an article in the Washington Post about a couple of new wine bars in the District, we decided to try Primrose. A reservation was easily obtained through their website for a 5:30pm slot on a Sunday. Inside, Primrose is whimsical and cozy. The bar is painted a lovely turquoise color and displays four shelves of quality spirits. There is seating around the bar, as well as wooden high-top tables and marble tables for two. And I adore the chandeliers that are seemingly made of ostrich feathers. Primrose is run by Sebastian Zutant and his wife, Lauren Winter. Zutant is no stranger to the Washington food scene. You may recognize him from Komi, Rasika, Proof, and the Red Hen. The menu is dedicated to French cuisine. You'll see French onion soup, coq au vin, boeuf bourguignon, and more. And as a wine bar, they've got over 70 selections by the bottle and roughly 15 by the glass. Wines hail from both the U.S. and France, with even some that Zutant produces at a Virginia winery. Zutant is bringing lesser known French regions to the spotlight, so the list of wines is eclectic and edgy. Glasses range from $9-14. And if you don't like wines, don't fret. There are four beers on draft, cider, and five craft cocktails you can choose. We each ordered a glass of the poulsard from the Jura, France region ($13). For food, we shared the French onion soup ($10) and the courge d'automne ($11), which consists of roasted squash, rye berries, and sunchokes. At first, we were worried because both the soup and the salad were very salty. We couldn't even finish the courge d'automne because of how salty this starter was. For entrées, we shared the coq au vin ($19, $35 for two) and the boeuf bourguignon ($23, $42 for two). These are easily shareable dishes. Thankfully, the entrées saved our experience. The chicken and braised beef were both perfectly cooked. Primrose pays a respectable homage to French cuisine and while I can't say that it's an exact replica, it gets close. I'm looking forward to seeing Primrose expand. read more

Primrose is a total gem: cozy, unpretentious, and comforting and imaginative food that is perfect for sharing. The small and intimate space make it feel really great for a date or a small dinner with friends. In an effort to try as much as we could, we shared a few things on the menu -- the french onion soup, the whipped rabbit, the duck liver pate, and the daube de boeuf. Everything was really delicious (and very rich -- they're not kidding about comfort food) but we were totally blown away by the charcuterie (the duck liver and rabbit). Both are a must try. We were stupid and didn't leave enough room for dessert, but luckily I anticipate being back at Primrose very very soon for lots more charcuterie and maybe an eclair. read more

I ordered through ChowNow, which uses DoorDash to deliver (I don't have a car, or else I would pick up, which is much better for the restaurant). They (DoorDash) gave me the wrong order and no one could reach the driver. Primrose texted me to tell me my order was waiting and I told them the bad news. I also can't eat the burger delivered because it has pork on it. Primrose offered to send someone over with a fresh order!!! I tried to decline but they insisted. I wish I had small bills to give them, but uh, has anyone really used cash since this started? I just want to give them all the props I can. What a lovely group of people. I'm going to rent a car and get dinner from them every single week, I think. Support them!! read more

Sometimes "hot and new" means "they haven't worked out the kinks yet." The decor and ambience is absolutely lovely - but that's the only reason why my review isn't one star. The service was definitely lacking. The waiter didn't come to our table for several minutes, and even after asking for it initially, didn't bring us water until the food came out. Which we really needed water, because everything we ordered was REALLY SALTY. I understand having to season, but omg, almost inedible how salty everything was. I ordered the La Belle cocktail which tasted more like a soft drink than a $12 cocktail. Looking forward to when they up their game and get more comfortable. The pear clafoutis was nice, but stuck to the skillet it was brought out in. It was a nice choice to decide to present it this way, but every other time I've ordered clafoutis, it was turned out onto a plate. Maybe they couldn't get it out because it was stuck and just served it to us with the skillet. read more

WONDERFUL AMBIANCE, FOOD, SERVICE...AS GOOD AS IT GETS. **Cozy yet sophisticated ambiance **Trendy, new hot spot **Fit for foodies **Vegetarian friendly My fiance and I have already been to Primrose twice since it's opening three weeks ago and I suspect we will be weekly customers. We are big fans of Sebastian Zutant (Red Hen, Proof) and were eager for this Brookland restaurant to open. This French-themed restaurant (it's billed as a 'wine bar' but it's so much more) was designed by Sebastian's wife Lauren Weiner and is eclectic and warm at the same time. The menu is made up of simple French country classics done exquisitely. Our favorite is the Coq a Vin and the bread pudding is among the best I've ever had. The largely French wine list also includes excellent wines made by the owner from Virginia grapes. They don't take reservations except for parties of six or more, so there can be a wait on weekends. But if you arrive early (6pm or 6:30) you may have better luck grabbing a table. But it's well worth the wait if you can't, and you can take the time to try one of Sebastian's incredible wines at the bar. NOTE: I've noticed another reviewer suggested you need to 'brave' the neighborhood. This is absurd. 12th Street is the "Main Street" of Brookland and is perfectly safe. If you can't handle seeing someone who isn't rich, then it might seem scary to you, but otherwise you should feel fine in this middle class DC neighborhood. read more

Great newcomer to the Brookline area. Love the decor, very Parisian. Light fixtures billowing (you'll understand when you see them). Dined there last Sunday night for the first time. Great service. The owner came by several times to see how we were doing since we were meeting with friends we hadn't seen for a while and had a lot to catch up on. (A bottle of champagne to start, and they have a corkage fee, which is always a plus for my husband who is an oenophile. A man who spends more money on wine a month than clothes for the year). Their wine list has some exceptional French wines very reasonably priced. The menu is small and hopefully they will have a few more entrees and salad options in the future. The reason for 2 stars! SALT, SALT, SALT. I think the chef that night was emulating Ermeril. But, his bam, bam, bam was with salt. My Coq au Vin, the boys Steak Frites all so salty almost inedible. The boys literally brushed the sea salt off the frites so they were edible. And, I will say the frites were exceptional after you scraped the sea salt away. The pate foie gras AMAZING and a very generous portion for the price. I will definitely give them another chance. read more

Everything about our experience on opening night was fantastic. We'll be back. Everyone was a pleasure to deal with. The food was excellent. Drinks were fantastic. The decor was spectacular with feather chandeliers and very high end finishes all over. The highlights: * pate de canard was great and paired nicely with cherries * French onion soup was very good * steak frites with Bearnaise was excellent--perfectly seasoned and cooked expertly * the Boeuf Bourgogne was very good * The Bruit Fort cocktail was an excellent whisky sour. Others at the table had the French 75 and were pleased as well. * the wine list was great and surprisingly affordable with great wine options available from $40 for a bottle * Dessert was great--the table was split between the 2 sweet options. My kids loved the ice cream. This place is great. Period. And if you have young kids, keep reading. It gets better. As good as the food was, this place, like Brookland neighbors Brookland's Finest and Menomale, is extremely family friendly and very approachable. The bathroom has a full on changing table with a stash of diapers and wipes! It's great! They brought out bread and pasta after only a few minutes. And they have high chairs too. So while we would've come back (and soon) for the food and drinks alone, it's a great place for families too. While we're able to get in, this will be an immediate addition to our rotation of family night out places. read more

Primrose was such a treat! Rachel took excellent care of us the whole evening, I think we stayed for almost three hours. Started off the evening with two French beers (Kronenbourg & Duchesse de Bourgogne) and their French fries. We shared the French onion soup, a vegetarian option that was rich and delicious. My boyfriend got the coq au vin, while I dug into their cauliflower with vadouvan. With our dinners, we had the Rolet Pinot Noir and the Des Pothiers Gamay. Both dinners were simple, but so elegantly and perfectly done. We wrapped up our evening with the chocolat pot de crème and two French 75s. The chocolate was decadent, soft, and melted in my mouth exactly the way I had hoped it would. To cap off a marvelous evening with fizzy gin cocktails felt like a celebration in of themselves. Definitely will be returning (for special occasions) and I hope to see more vegetarian options on the menu. read more

Great food, amazing staff, magical ambiance. We ordered the whipped rabbit, French onion soup, fried artichokes, the burger, steak frites, and eclairs. The burger was my favorite item of the night (double patties with gooey gruyere melted in between... heaven), then it was a true tie with everything else we ordered- with the exception of the steak frites. The steak was good, but everything else was exceptional. The rabbit charcuterie was flavorful, the soup was perfectly savory and sweet, and the eclairs were what chocolate dreams are made of... The GM Victor was kind enough to bring two glasses of cremant to our table upon being seated, as I had sent an email prior to arriving saying we were celebrating. And Sebastian, the sommelier, helped us select a Bordeaux that we loved. I can't wait to come back and try more- especially when their patio opens this spring! read more

My favorite neighborhood spot! Excellent wine (and good cocktails too!), tasty food (good for meals or just snacking), and really attentive and friendly staff. It's also a great date spot with romantic vibes. Also, plenty of outdoor seating which is must in COVID! read more

By far one of the best nights out in awhile. The outdoor seating was comfortable and safe. Heaters at each table, plenty of ventilation and separated from other tables. The care and attention to keeping everyone healthy was noticeably and appreciated. The food was great and comforting. The wine pairings was a real treat. Got to try new wines and learn a few things. We will be back! read more

I saw the restaurant closed at 10pm. We got there at 9:20 to be informed that the kitchen was closed. We walked away and then came back at 9:24pm thinking we would just do drinks. We were then informed that the bar just issued last call. I was disappointed, and as a former restaurant server, the unprofessionalism always leaves a bad taste in my mouth. read more

We held my sisters bridal shower brunch here and it was fabulous. The service was consistent but not intrusive. Everyone loved the food, especially the madelines with pistchio sauce. Great atmosphere. Highly recommend the French toast! read more

I had the opportunity to go to Primrose for date night and it was spectacular! The onion soup was a great start. The cocktails were terrific. We finished our evening by splitting a burger and mac and cheese. The burger was phenomenal with the cooked onions. The mac and cheese was so good, we ordered some to bring home. Primrose is also doing a wine club that is very interesting and we will be looking into joining soon. The only critique I have is Primrose charges a 20% gratuity for all checks. I am generally a generous tipper so I was a little miffed - I did add more gratuity just don't like being told how much I should tip. To Primrose's credit, the gratuity is clearly noted on their website and is not some hidden charge. The tables inside are decently spread apart and the cabanas outside looked warm, fun and inviting. Overall, it was a great night out and we will be back, for sure. read more

I've never left a restaurant in my life, but this place's service was beyond horrible. Particularly I'm referring to the sit-in-manager/host (06/23/2019). As soon as I walked in the restaurant I noticed that the host wasn't at the host's little podium. So, I obviously waited as opposed to being a dick and seating myself. When the host finally came, he didn't ask where I'd like to sit or how many were in my party, but he assumed and low-key forcefully suggested that I sit at the bar...and tbh any other day I would've obliged, but today's weather was exceptionally nice plus the restaurant was far from being busy. Also btw, wtf happened to smiles? Isn't that what a host does?...but I regress. So I, the customer, reminded him of the slew of open tables outside. He eventually sat me down, mentioned nothing of specials, and later on brought me some water and a dinner menu. He unsolicitedly "apologized"/apple-o-gized about not bringing a drink menu, and that he'd bring me one as soon as one became available. And of course that drink menu never came. So at this point I was just like "he just sucks at his job" and wasn't that bothered tbh. BUUUUTTTTT later on, I happened to notice this same disgruntled dude being such an informative pleasantly-toned host to this white coupIe that he sat right across from me...of-muthafukin-course right? Where did this interest and professionalism come from all a sudden??...in 2-0-1-9. I initially tried to prevent giving the restaurant a bad review since its sorta new and everyone has bad days...but the response I got when I took the time to show this guy what happened was beyond unprofessional. He spoke down to me like I wasn't a gotdamn customer or let alone an adult. He made me feel as if I should be thankful that I got any service, especially since they were apparently understaffed. He was nasty af and loud enough so that the surrounding guests could hear him speak to me in that tone...So yea, won't be back and I hope they learn how to show great service to everyone...even when they are understaffed. I really don't care if it wasn't intentional because that's what racism is folks. It's so f'n engrained in the American psyche that most of it happens unintentionally...but my fucks for passive racism have all been used up at this point. read more

I enjoyed Primrose so much I tweeted about it and a follower went the next day and loved it. Good look Primrose and the great management and staff get an A+ read more

Primrose - I enjoyed Primrose so much I tweeted about it and a follower went the next day and loved it. Great management and staff get an A+ - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Tasty food with a good ambiance. A little pricey for what it is but it's what you'd expect in DC. I would expect more next time. Overall, a good brunch spot. read more

Love this little place! I went her first a year or two back and had the beef bourguignon which was fantastic! I came back and tried the Primrose burger which was also good, although I asked for medium rare and it was fully well done. Other than that, delicious food and the best atmosphere in a cozy spot in Brookland! read more

great food and staff. I received a wonderful compliment once I walked in so that definetly bought them a star. the food was amazing! everyone at the table enjoyed their meal. I had the chicken dish. only downside I would say is that it was really dark and hard to see the menu. one of my guests had to take out her cell phone light to read it. I couldn't see my food but it was delicious. I will definitely return! read more