Had dinner last night with some close friends. Were seated at a table set into a lane of Connecticut. The traffic was noisy and trucks passed barely a foot front my elbow. Yikes! WE waited 20 minutes for menus and a first visit from the waitress. Of three entrees ordered, one was pretty good (lasagna), the others (mussels, chicken and duck) were overlooked, dry, and unpleasant. The waitress was nice and the apple tart dessert was delicious! Overall, very poor execution, uncomfortable environment and bad cooking. Kudos to our waitress and the desert chef. Worth 1 star. Not recommended. read more

First time customer here. My experience was EXCELLENT! I loved everything about this place - the food, atmosphere, the service and the unpretentiousness attitude of everyone we dealt with. Had the French Onion Soup, Duck Breast and chocolate cake and enjoyed all of it. Everything was delicious! I am already making plans to come back and can't wait. read more

We had grilled watermelon salad that was truly incredible. Unfortunately it is now out of season but it was so unusual and well done that it is enough reason to come back to see what they replace it with. I had the roasted lamb shank which was tender and served with Israeli couscous - I could have that meal every night. My wife had the haddock which was equally delicious. Service was attentive and delightful and the ambiance was quiet and pleasant with music flowing in from the art activities out on the street. A new spot for us that we will happily return to. read more

The appetizers and entrees at Rosemary Bistro are exceptional. The dining room is small so the service is personal. The Chef is often at hand. The bread is wonderful. One quibble: The desert menu is uninteresting and the mousse is like pudding. read more

Food was great! We each had three courses and were happy with them all. Each course was creative and tasty and you can tell they put time and thought into the dishes. Service lagged just a bit - our original server disappeared and we were picked up by someone else I guess. But not a big deal and everyone was friendly. We'll certainly return. read more

The friendly owner clearly has a passion for food and the sourcing of ingredients. All the dishes we ordered were wonderful - beet tartar, gazpacho, endive salad. The smokey branzino with gremolata was sublime. We hope to come back soon. read more

Fine Dining for the Unpretentious Frederic, the owner, offers the most complex spicing of dishes that you will find anywhere in the Washington area. He offers a 5 star meal for a third of the cost. Frederic and the staff make you feel welcome and comfortable whether you are wearing sneakers from a long walk or dressed up for an evening out. Located right across from Politics and Prose it is perfect for Brunch/Lunch or Dinner. read more

Neighborhood French. Friendly owner manager guy. Waiter named something like Gus or Guy not the most competent. Been many times. Every appetizer we've had has been delicious. Good beef dishes. Rich desserts. read more

Food was good, but value for money on lower end. Had good brunch options--we ordered the Rosemary breakfast and chorizo sandwich read more

Rosemary Bistro Cafe - Outdoor seating and front - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I came here alone tonight and savored every bite of the duck. I Can never finish a whole plate but had to finish this, it was perfect. The elderflower martini 10/10 and just one had me feeling pretty tipsy and that was also perfect tasting. read more

What an AMAZING LITTLE AUTHENTIC FRENCH BISTRO!!! Hubby and I went for lunch a few weeks ago and came back once or twice a week since then!!! We have been to France a few times and this has been on point with a few twist of fusion cuisine but I have to say what a GREAT PLACE!!! The server are fantastic and very much on top of their game!!! We have came back several times and what the "icing on the cake " is that the owner, Fred, (I think that's his name) came out with to greet us and gave us a toast with this AMAZING dessert liqueur after dinner drink from France!! They actually have "sweetbreads", those who don't know what it is, it's NOT actually " sweet bread" but just look it up- and duck or rabbit, if it's available and if so, order it when they have it!!! You won't be disappointed for all the times we have been eating here for several times and we travel an hour to get here, it's well worth the trip for us - just your local French bistro spot- not too far from the national Zoo off Connecticut Ave!!! We are looking forward to coming back REALLY SOON!!! read more

Deliciously prepared and beautifully presented take out. I ordered the onion soup, salmon, and mousse. All were excellent. The soup had fantastic flavor and depth, and even the cheese and bread topping translated well with take out. The salmon was cooked to perfection, and the sides complimented the salmon well and were seasonally appropriate. The mousse topped it off. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the warm baguette. I look forward to dining in or on the patio when the weather gets warmer and the pandemic wanes. read more

Their beets salad is amazing!! Everything is well presented and amazing. Great place to enjoy elegant food with good friends in family friendly atmosphere. The owner was very friendly. read more

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The food here is absolutely fantastic. I highly recommend the steak burger and the salmon tartare. The white curry mussels were super tasty as well. Excellent service and they do a good job keeping things clean and taking Covid precautions read more

Rosemary Bistro Cafe - Salmon Tartare - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Let me preface my review by saying that I have eaten at this restaurant many, many times and have recommended it to my friends and out of town guests. In my opinion it is a wonderful restaurant and a terrific addition to the restaurant scene in Upper NW. So, imagine my surprise and disappointment when I ordered from their "ToGo Regular Menu" 10 days ago. None of the items that I ordered bore any resemblance to their photos and were either inedible -- Traditional Beef Bourguignon-- or cold- or frankly so unappetizing (dark chocolate mousse) that they had to be thrown out. The only "keeper" was the Chateau de Marjolet Cotes de Rhône a modestly priced, robust red. I don't think I will be ordering from their "ToGo" menu again--what a waste of almost $90 for a single-serving meal that was unappetizing and inedible! read more

Food is great, service is too. Comfortable seating the staff is very attentive. I went with other friends on my next visit and we all agreed the food is good and location is not far from us . Looking forward to our next visits. read more

What an amazing cafe!! The tree cover and shade makes it feel like a European city cafe. Service was excellent and menus was wonderful. A great little slice of Connecticut Ave!! We'll be back to try more. read more

Rosemary Bistro Cafe - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Happened on this restaurant as we were driving to MD. Much to our surprise, we were spot on for a great dinner. It wasn't busy but we were earlier than most having skipped over lunch. I had the gazpacho and fennel salad. It was a great starter. The gazpacho was the best I have had in years. Dinner and desert did not disappoint either. read more

Rosemary's was delicious! Every dish everyone got was amazing and flavorful. One of the reasons we went there was to go to a restaurant we felt safe eating indoors. They require people to be vaccinated and ask for your card. It made us feel safer going out to eat. I liked that they actually care about their staff and customers' safety. The service and restaurant was great we would definitely go back again. read more

We loved the salads. I had the avocado chicken salad - delicious. The dumplings were also awesome. Friendly and prompt service. I will be back. read more

Service was terrible, waited 20 minutes before calling restaurant from our table to send a server to us. Caesar salad was mediocre, the 4 of us ordered different dishes. Chicken, fish, mussels and duck. Dried out protein, not even warm and absolutely no flavor in any dish. Apple tart was nice and was actually warm, ironically, considering that nothing else was. It was scary sitting out on the street, trucks were rolling by less than a foot away, very noisy and unpleasant vibe. Server was nice read more

Great afternoon and wonderful food. Joined a group of photo enthusiasts sponsored by Washington Photo Safari. Our leader David Luria had arranged a five course tasting meal in the afternoon, so we could both practice Food Photography and enjoy the food. We spent equal amounts of time photographing the colorful meal presentations and then savored the fantastic tastes. Kudos to David and the friendly staff at the Rosemary Bistro. They have a wonderful front patio on Connecticut Ave and we each had separate tables to accommodate our photography equipment and to practice proper social distancing. The weather was perfect, the light was great, and the location put us in the middle of a wonderful and busy neighborhood. I heartily recommend visiting Rosemary Bistro Cafe either for lunch or dinner and eat great food while watching the world pass by. read more

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Pleasantly surprised with the dish. Well presented, satisfying, fresh ingredients. I loved the most is the waiter, who was well trained, although he said he just started as the business picked up after the pandemic. I will definitely return for another menu to try. read more

I have been amazed by the consistency with which Rosemary Bistro Cafe serves delicious food! . . . whether it's fish or meat or vegetarian. It seems the ingredients are always fresh. The owner, Fred Darricarrere, wants very much for his clients to enjoy their experience. Not only is the cuisine superb, but he and his staff are welcoming and down to earth. Washington, DC is so lucky to have this restaurant! read more

I Called to make sure they had outside seating. Unlike some other french restaurants, the owner, Fred Darricarrere, was so accommodating w/ my reservations and everything else we ordered. Parking on Connecticut Ave close to the restaurant was easy. Was impressed w/ the seating on a lovely wood deck in front of the restaurant and on the wide sidewalk . Fun for husband and me to watch the people passing by - just like at a restaurant in France. I am a very picky eater and usually am disappointed with restaurant cooking which can often be hit or miss. I can honestly say the food was MAGNIFIQUE. We both started with wonderful chilled gazpacho w/ a piece of bruschetta that had teeny tomatoes pieces and other tasty bits on it. I always order gazpacho whenever it's on the menu. This was the best I have ever eaten, including the one I make! Husband continued w/ filet mignon hamburger w/ caramelized onions, cheddar cheese, white truffle mayo on a brioche bun and fries. I got a taste and loved that the filet mignon was so tender and tasty, cooked to order, bun was soft & yummy and French fries warm. My husband didn't leave a crumb. I had the veal cheeks that were as tender as Fred said they would be and in a delicious sauce. Since I didn't want to eat the tri color tortellini that comes with it, the owner was more than happy to substitute a mixed salad which was perfect. I had read in another review that the beet salad was great but don't prefer beets so didn't try that. All in all, food, service, location and décor were all top notch. Already have plans to go back for lunch and for dinner next week. Excited to try other offerings on the menu. Seems like a perfect place for couples, families and friends to enjoy great dining. If you go to the website, www.rosemarydc.com, you will see a slightly abbreviated takeout menu and then below that the regular menus that have everything mentioned above. read more

The best meal we've had since the beginning of COVID, bar none. So glad we gave this local place a try. Like many, we've made a tradition/habit of treating ourselves to an order-in meal on Fridays. Admittedly, we haven't been particularly creative, but our experiences have fluctuated from "well that wasn't bad" to "meh" to yuck. Rosemary Bistro was the stand-out of the year! First, they sensibly tell you when you have to order in order to expect delivery (which they provide themselves) at a particular time, so one doesn't get into the DoorDash Friday night Hunger Games competition. And, may I say, the delivery was not only on time, but pleasant and careful! One of our dishes included an egg yolk in half a shell nestled in the dish. This was delivered entirely intact! That brings me to the food. We ordered from their outstandingly priced 2-course + dessert for $28! No substitutions, but if you want to complain about that, you have no soul. For the first course, we both chose the Fennel Salad over the soup of the day: light, refreshing and tasty! For the entree, we got one of each: one was the kampachi fish filet with sautéed vegetables and a ginger/turmeric sauce. It was lovely with nice, crispy skin and flavorful sauce. The other entree was spaghetti carbonara which was absolutely fabulous! Rich without being sludgy and gross, the quality of the bacon was top-notch and the mushrooms added meatiness without extra weight. The best spaghetti carbonara I've had in decades. The dessert on offer was bread pudding, which looks great, but I need to take a little break before digging in. Thank you, Rosemary Bistro Cafe. I can't praise you enough! read more

Solid restaurant. Go there often because it's close to my father's house. Menu changes often enough to always try something new. Wine list good. Staff is lovely. Owner is charming. Definitely recommend this neighborhood jewel. read more

Slow service; rude waiter with a non chálame attitude that made my invitation feel very poor to say the least; the soda was flat (no gas) even though it was a can; the beer was tiny bottle overpriced; food items were very little options; poor service; the music was so odd choice and the restaurant looks like it's an Asian restaurant turned "French". I just felt embarrassed to have invited to come here. Overpriced for the style. I definitely don't recommend. Sorry read more

(This restaurant is kind of like a slice of Provence; very French). Good food (including good bread), good libations, good service, nice al fresco seating. Relaxed / casual vibes. Definitely check it out if you havent been. Two thumbs up. read more

This is one of the worst brunches I've ever had. The eggs Benedict were not eggs Benedict. Rather they were two (cold) poached eggs on plain (stale) bread with a slice of ham and bad Hollandaise sauce. The coffee was almost undrinkable -- bitter with a load of brown sludge at the bottom of the cup. I felt ripped off and angry and of course will not return. read more

One visit, nice French food on the sidewalk. Price was totally reasonable and the waitstaff were pleasant.

Came for brunch and the food and drinks were great! Will definitely be back sometime soon!

Had a wonderful outdoor dinner here on Saturday. The food was very good, the owner is great! It was so good to be out in the city - the outdoor seating was nice and busy, though distanced. We had duck confit, hanger steak, bouillabaisse, and salmon tartar. Looking forward to another dinner soon! read more

Great food & drinks; appalling service! My husband and I had dined here once before and loved it, so with cousins coming from out-of-town, I booked a Saturday (8/28/21) rez for an outdoor table for 6:30. It wasn't crowded. The cocktails and starters were delicious...but we waited (and waited) for the entrees. However since we were having a good time, we didn't complain, until our server arrived with sad entrees (3 no-longer warm, and one overcooked). Our server apologized profusely, but explained that the employee who handles deliveries didn't show up, so her manager told her to get in her car and make a delivery herself; she offered to heat-up our entrees, or start-from-scratch and replace them, took our meals and left. My husband was irate and said he wanted to go someplace else where we cd count on getting something to eat...so as he and my cousins walked off, I went inside to pay for the cocktails/starters...but there was no one to be seen (I was literally yelling "Hello! I want to pay our tab and leave!"). I gave up and left, but as I did, I glanced over my shoulder and saw our server running after me toward the door. She told me the manager had said "no charge" for our drinks/starters. Well, that was nice, I guess. Too bad, b/c Rosemary Bistro's food is excellent...but the management is below zero. read more

This review is for their booth at the wonderful Saturday Lafayette Market. An enthusiast gentleman described their offerings and I am now enjoying the most delicious Quiche I have ever eaten. I look forward to the Vegetable soup later today. I will definitely head to this restaurant as soon as I can! read more

New entrant on upper Connecticut Avenue, and a neighborhood Gem already! Enjoyed rockfish, veal cheeks, perfectly made Manhattans, and the best beet salad ever presented. Service was very good and a small front deck gives you a view of city life - right across the street from the famous Politics and Prose bookstore. Definitely worth a visit. read more

Delicious French food prepared by a Frenchman. If that doesn't excite you, you've given up on life.

It may seem odd to rave about the service for food delivered from Rosemary, but hear me out. First, the food was everything reviewers have said -- truly wonderful and didn't break the budget. But the surprise was how thoughtfully it was packaged for home consumption. The French onion soup and creme brulee good examples of the care). Delivery right on time and piping hot, as the restaurant delivers directly in the neighborhood. (Who knows: if you order at an off-peak time and the restaurant is short-staffed, you might even get yours from the delightful restaurant owner himself. I did!) Tip: spend an extra $3 and get a whole loaf of that bread. read more

Excellent service and great food! Fred and his team do a masterful job! Both their takeout and dinning menus are wonderful. Sunday brunch with unlimited mimosas may be the best in DC. read more

On our way to Chevy Chase in search of lunch, we passed Rosemary Bistro Cafe on Connecticut Avenue--just across the street from Politics and Prose. A quick u-turn, parking out front, and outdoor seating set the mood. The owner, Frederic Darricarrere, was on duty, serving as maitre-d and waiter. A very helpful person. My friend and I decided on pastrami sandwiches, French style, with cornichon inside. Lovely. Excellent fries. And a good chat with Fred. Opened the place last summer, but is surviving. Good luck. A nice addition to the bistro scene. read more