My husband and I met friends for brunch at Cafe Dupont, and we found the experience very underwhelming. The service was slow and disorganized. We had to ask 3 or 4 times for the toast that was supposed to accompany my husband's corned beef hash--it finally came as the others were finishing their meals. No one checked to see if all was well or to refill coffee or water during the meal. We stopped someone and asked for hot sauce, and they said that they would put an order for hot sauce in the system, which meant that it wouldn't come out until well after the meal because the kitchen was busy. Food was OK, but nothing that I'd go back for. read more

Confusing - 2 Cafe Dupont's not far from each other. The owners of the Hotel Dupont have undertaken an extensive renovation and in the process, have brought in a new chef Nenad Stefanovic to serve in the new restaurant, Cafe Dupont. The restaurant will open in September but Nenad held a cooking class prior to the restaurant's opening. Nenad and his sidekick, Chris, created a delicious set of dishes as us "students" sipped wine and watched them cook. I would have enjoyed some hands on experience but the class was enjoyable nonetheless. Nenad and Chris prepared Chilled zucchini soup; Couscous salad with tomatoes, cucumbers and pine nuts; Pasta with crab, zucchini, tomato and roasted corn; Pork with chutney and Mini strawberry, rhubard and plum pies. The food was great - my favorite was the pasta which had huge chunks of crab complimented by a nice wine butter sauce. We were also provided with recipes at the end of the class which I hope to use at some point in the future. I loved the fact that they focused on fresh vegetables grown locally and that the chef was very engaging. I will definitely check out the restaurant when it is open. read more

As hotel restaurants go, this one is very good for breakfast. Nice menu, great service. Prices are not egregious either relative to some of the obscenities with a dollar sign $ that I've seen adjacent to the eats on many four and five star hotels AM menus. The location and ambience seem to draw in a number of the people from the embassy district to talk over breakfast. I didn't try their evening fare, but the place is crowded so I have to believe that they take it to the same level at dinner. read more

The Pembroke - View Dining room - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Brunch is pretty fantastic. Good mix of savory or sweet. The brioche french toast is over the top! Make a reservation on opentable so you don't have to wait -- it was packed at 11am when we walked in. Great place for mimosas with friends or a nice brunch with the parents. Plenty of big tables. read more

$36 for two breakfasts. That's a little steep, considering one meal was a mere eggs Benedict on an English muffin. K2L and I gave CD 2 stars. First, a quick comment on the interior and service. The tile floor is unique and appealing, and the large floor to ceiling windows cut the claustrophobia of indoor winter dining. It's a nice spot to watch pedestrian traffic. Waitstaff was courteous, non-intrusive, yet highly attentive. Still, while most of our meal (including bottomless coffee) was satisfying, the price for mediocrity and my substandard omelet leaves me unimpressed with CD. I bet it's nice in the summer especially, and anytime for a coffee and croissant, but the omelet... 3-egg omelet infused with herbs. Looks good in writing, but an anticlimactic taste experience. Despite the herbs clearly present, this was the most bland egg dish I can recall having. Where was the flavor?!?! Impressive omission. A dash of salt and pepper might have saved the day, but really, I shouldn't have to. read more

My girlfriend and I had dinner at Cafe Dupont on Saturday night to kick off a girls night out. The location is fabulous...right on the circle and a very quick and easy walk from the Dupont Metro station. The decor is minimalist and modern with very dim lighting. We had a table near the window which gave us a little more light from the street. The wine list is really small and very basic. We shared a bottle of Kung Fu Riesling (I've had it numerous times before and it's really good) while I had a caesar salad as a starter and the scallops as my entree. Both left me very underwhelmed. I didn't care for the dressing on the salad nor the fact that one of the pieces of romaine had the core on it. The scallops had decent seasoning, but were not amazing. They didn't have the melt in your mouth quality I look for in a perfectly seared scallop and were a bit chewy at times. We opted out of dessert as none of the ones on the menu looked incredibly appealing. The prices are a bit high (I'm guessing since it's in a hotel) and do not match the quality of the food you receive. I paid $74 (after tax and tip) and did not feel like I got a $74 meal. With some many other dining options (some at a much lower price), Cafe Dupont would not be my first choice again when in the area. read more

This is a really elegant restaurant - just as close to true fine dining as you want out on a fun night with friends. Menu was, if not particularly adventuresome or creative, crafted and presented perfectly. I had a 24-hour shortrib with polenta - savory, soft, perfect, paired with a delicious Côtes du Rhône recommended by our waiter. They've done an excellent job with the renovations - it does Jurys (the old place) justice. The new restaurant and bar are gorgeous, modern, and understated. Same with the service. Our waiter was always there when you wanted him to be, never when you didn't; deferential, then pally. And just like Jurys, this is not a hotel restaurant. It's a restaurant owned by a hotel. read more

Small portions, exorbitant prices, and geared towards tourists best describes Cafe Dupont. I will say that the space itself is nice, with sweeping views of Dupont Circle. The waiters/waitresses will rarely check on you, thus our water glasses were never refilled. The french toast was just mediocre. There is no urgency to return here anytime soon. read more

Bad food, bad service, very overpriced. On a thursday night, my girlfriend and I decided to check this place out. We'd been to the bar before and, despite the bad service, enjoyed the decor and the location. It took about 30 minutes to get our starters: a Caesar Salad and a bowl of soup. I received no water, though my girlfriend did; the bus-woman brought over two glasses of water, set one down in front of my girlfriend and continued on. Weird. The Caesar Salad and Split-Pea Soup were both decent, if pricey. The chef, unfortunately, left the bitter core on the Romaine lettuce, but that was easily removed. I DID get to spend several minutes visually examining the salad, as my girlfriend was not given a spoon to eat her soup with, and we had to wait. About 30-40 minutes later we received our main courses. While the floor manager's "you get food, eat, eat" was nice, it would've been even better to not have to wait 5 minutes for silverware. Anyway, my GF had mushroom tagliatelle, which didn't seem to have a "gamut" of mushrooms, but was decent enough. I got a chicken breast sandwich, specifically because of the promised Nueske's bacon and tomato spread. What I got were two dry, tiny chicken tenders on a huge bun, no bacon, no spread, just a sad, wilted piece of lettuce, and smooshed slice of tomato. Thankfully I had mustard and mayo on the side to attempt to make it edible. The fries (called out on the menu as "Dupont Fries") were clearly standard frozen bag-o-steak fries. And somewhat lukewarm. We then waited about 15 more minutes to get the bill, and a good 5-10 minutes for the card to be picked up and charged. I believe the waitress wanted to give good service, but was prevented from doing so by the inept kitchen and bizarre floor manager. The ridiculous cost of the food and drink there was really clear to us, when we went to Circa for a glass of wine. Not one class on Circa's decent by-the-glass menu was priced higher than the cheapest glass at Cafe Dupont. Strong recommendation to avoid. read more

My wife and I visited Cafe Dupont on a Thursday evening at 6:30PM after seeing a deal on OpenTable. I was a little concerned after reading a number of poor reviews. We arrived and were quickly seated outside - it was a little warm out but we wanted to people-watch. Our server, Ryan, appeared quickly and covered the specials. We first ordered drinks: a Hoegaarden and a Delierium Tremens. NICE beer selection. Expensive? Sure. But these are good beers and the prices are pretty normal for these (maybe not Hoegaarden - but Duvel, La Finde Du Monde, and Delerium are usually around $10). We received warm french bread, in a paper bag, and soft butter shortly after placing our order. We ordered the brie appetizer which was unique but very tasty. Our entrees came shortly after we finished: I had a the sirloin steak with bernaise sauce at the recommendation of Ryan and my wife had the lobster bisque and maison salad. The bisque came first as just some lobster in a large bowl. Our confusion cleared as the food runner poured the bisque from a small pitcher. Neat. The bisque was very rich and very tasty. The steak was great. The salads tasted pretty much like salads. As we ate, our table was a bit wobbly and the hostess came over to move the table a bit - it worked. The staff members were all polite and awesome - really knowledgeable about the menu - and the food was all very nice. Before our special discount, four beers, two entrees, and an appetizer came out to $96.80. That's pretty standard for something like this in DC. I'd recommend it for a nice night out. read more

Had a great experience. The room was awesome and modern. Location is perfect. Walking distance to so many things. The hotel staff was amazing and very polite. My only exception is the "no outside food" policy in the lounge. Everyone was very accommodating, and offered me a table in the lobby... I shared my pizza with the front office staff and went to bed. ...quick add, the television service and remote in my room was a bit sketchy. read more

I think Cafe DuPont is one of the most underrated places in the city. I too am guilty for frequently overlooking it when I am making reservations. While it is in a hotel, it is not your typical hotel restaurant. The hotel has undergone some positive changes and the restaurant has remained consistent. For starters, it has a nice ambiance any time of year. Especially on a summer day, the patio and cafe style tables are great for people-watching on DuPont circle. The food is good to very good. The crab cake on a bed of chorizo and brussel sprout leaves is one of the best in the city. All crab, no mayo or bread to mask the taste. Great location, good service, good food. read more

I had reservations for brunch on Easter Sunday at 3pm, when we got there brunch was over and we where told to sit at the bar. We where not given menus till 10 minutes later and top it off the staff was disrespectful to my wife. This is the worst restaurant I have been in years. read more

I agree with some other reviewers that this place is greatly underrated. The menu is absolutely amazing. We are French, and every single item in the menu evoked fond memories to us of our childhood, as they are all very typical. In most restaurants, I hesitate between 2 or 3 items on the menu. Here, absolutely every item was appealing. I had the Tagliatelles a la Sauce Aux Cepes, and my wife had Boeuf Bourguignon. Absolutely fantastic, I would say even better than in other French restaurants. Highly recommended. read more

Went for Labor Day brunch and it was almost complete empty. Grey and I sat outside in the shade so it wasn't too hot. I got the avocado toast, while he got the French toast. We got sausage and hash browns as sides. The avo toast was good and so were the sausage links. Grey said his French toast and hash were good, but not good enough to justify the price!! Good golly gosh was it expensive!! Each side was SIX dollars. Six. And the entrees weren't big enough to warrant the price. The hash legitimately was so so small that you could finish it in 3 bites. Smaller than the circumference of a tennis ball, slightly larger than a golf ball. read more

The Pembroke - Avocado toast - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Superb accommodations for your visit to DC! Restaurant & bar serve delicious food & cocktails. Look for John at the entrance - he's the best!!' read more

Came here for a private happy hour a few days back so this is really just for the room in the back which holds space for a large group of people. We had our own bartender who was extremely pleasant and polite and kept the drinks flowing. The apps and finger foods were solid with the mini burgers being just absolutely delicious. Im not proud to admit it but I inhaled like 4 of them. The space was enough to handle a large group of at least 40 running around without it being uncomfortably tight. The food came out at good pace to keep up with the demand. This area is just perfect for people to mingle and truly walk around. Props to this place for a nice setup and for the delish food. read more

Cafe Dupont is a spectacular French restaurant in the Dupont Circle area. This was one of the culinary highlights of my visit. We were seated at the bar while waiting for the rest of our party to arrive, and the bartender was friendly and conversational, setting a great tone for our evening. I ordered the scallops as my appetizer after the server assured us that they were delicately prepared and I should not fear and texture problems. Indeed they were. The presentation was beautiful, the scallops perfectly tender, and it was all I could do to not lick the plate clean. My main course was the duck, which was also great both in taste and presentation. It came with endive and was richly flavorful. The others items eaten at our table were the salad with salmon, beet salad, mussels, and halibut. Each and every item was well received. Service was spot on - I wish I could remember our server's name to give him a pat on the back. read more

Service is a little slow during mid-week happy hour. One of the waiters was not very friendly, and although he was efficient in his job, , a smile would have been nice. We were here three times and he was the same each time. The other waiters and waitresses we had were very personable. We had a few beers and glasses of wine, and on one visit a cheese tray. This was a very nice snack, with four thick slices of American cheeses. I believe one was a bleu cheese, one was Brie, one was one was a sharp cheddar, and one might have been a Parmesan. There were crackers, some toasted bread, grapes and apple slices. Three spreads were also on the tray, a plum butter, spicy green spread, and a dried fruit mustardo. It was delicious! read more

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Unfortunately, the word "unfortunate" sums up my experience with Cafe Dupont. It's unfortunate I am giving Cafe Dupont a two star rating. I prefer to give restaurants the benefit of my experience (if you can tell from my rating distro), but the service fell short (the plate runner and the server even got into a little tiff above our heads), food quality/satisfaction was shy of average, and the food items was over priced. I kid you not, I watched in horror as my friend nibbled on five shrimp that cost him $15. And then later he admitted the shrimp tasted fishy (which is an indicator of less-than-fresh seafood). It's unfortunate because Cafe Dupont has a lot of potential. It has a perfect location, very chic but unpretentious ambiance, and great outdoor seating. But I've been here twice now and I can only recommend for those who want to try Cafe Dupont (and should! Please don't let me stop you) should be aware this isn't an ideal place for a full meal, but maybe a few drinks before your final destination. read more

Came here for dinner with a friend on Tuesday night, and was pleasantly surprised. Neither one of us had high expectations -- after all, it's got such a generic name! (Seriously, doesn't the name remind you of some strip mall diner?). Anyway - we were greeted by a friendly gentleman with a heavy French accent and were seated right away. The whole purpose of the dinner was to catch up and chat, so we didn't mind that the service throughout the night was a bit on the slow side (we were slow to make our picks too). Seating was comfortable, and the ambiance of the room was great. Not too loud, not too quiet -- just right for a low-key dinner with a friend. Onto the food -- my friend ordered the rock fish, and I got the duck breast. We were both very happy with what we got. The chef was judicious with accompaniments and sauces, and nothing came across as heavy-handed. The fish and the meat were cooked just right. By the time I finished my entree, I felt full, but wish I had tried more of the other stuff on the menu given the quality. We shared a dessert (bitter chocolate ganache) and that was well-done too. Prices were very reasonable -- I thought I got a very good deal based on the quality of food I received. No complaints -- it was an enjoyable experience, and I look forward to returning again soon. read more

I recently went to Cafe Dupont for dinner on a Thursday night with a couple friends. My husband and I shared a pear and carrot soup and saffron mussels. I was excited about the mussels, but ended up really not liking them. They had a really seafood-y taste that overpowered the saffron. The mussels came with thick-cut fries, too, but they seemed a little plain. Luckily I loved the soup, so my husband ended up eating all the mussels while I had that. I also tried some of my friend's blue cheese, wine, and pear quiche, which she didn't seem to love, but I thought was interesting and tasty. Service was really good, and it's definitely a place I'd go back to. read more

This is a great, convenient spot when looking for some breakfast/brunch/lunch. It isn't cheap ($13+ for burger) but everything comes out great. I judge breakfast-y spots by how well they poach an egg. My eggs were super white and perfect texture . The only gripe is the vinegar taste was too strong. $4 for a 10 ounce diet coke seems a bit much too. read more

Cafe DuPont was an attractive restaurant with mediocre food. Highly erratic quality in food and service from drinks to dessert. Wine came out warm, vodka up came out on ice. Salad delicious, soup too hot to eat even by the time meal came. Rockfish small and dry with terrible sides. Ribs delicious but small portion. Waiter nice but no real customer service. And not cheap for all that. read more

The decor of the place is really well done. It looks great and they have a lot of window seating so you can have breakfast/lunch while looking out at Dupont Circle. Unfortunately, the service wasn't quite as good as the decor. I was there for breakfast and a few things were off. First, the server took my order wrong even after confirming the order with me. Second, the server poured the coffee such that the spout of the coffee pot actually dipped into my coffee cup, even on the refill. Pretty much ensures that your coffee has touched everyone's coffee. Third, the silverware was a tad dirty. There were definitely distinct oily fingerprints on the silverware. Does the food quality redeem the poor service? It's a three on the quality of the food. Nothing particularly special about it. The food was presented well, but the taste doesn't pop out at you. read more

Good place to grab a drink after work, as the location can't be beat. The food is just ok. We ordered the chicken cordon bleu, which was tasty, albeit deep fried, and the mussels marinere + fries, which were not good (the chicken also came with fries, which are definately not worth their weight in carbs). I did not try the bread for the table, and my mozzerlla & tomato salad appetizer was a little salty. I am giving this place 3 stars because our waitress was such a doll and the outside seating was great (save the mosquitos). I probably won't be heading back to Cafe Dupont anytime soon for food, but perhaps a quick drink with friends if we are in the area. read more

I would give this restaurant a solid 3.5 stars. It isn't my go to place or a place I think of dining really. If I have to be in DuPont Circle I enjoy dining here. I have never had a bad experience at Cafe DuPont and have dined here 4 times in the last 3 years. The restaurant is quiet, and the wait staff is good; some better than others. On this evening, my appetizer was the butternut squash gnocchi with mushrooms, and goat cheese-- Oh my how yummy this was. I wished this had been my entree. I found out later that I can request it as an entree and I will most likely do so on my next visit. My dining companion ordered the veal sweetbreads with gruyere cheese polenta and french fried onions, and it was good. He also had the salmon and liked it, too. I ordered the seafood stew, in vegetable broth (I think it was the special). While the seafood was tasty, the overall dish was quite bland. I didn't enjoy it. The stew needed some herbs or garlic or both. Note: On previous visits I have had the mussels mariniere with fries which is good but way over-priced. I have also had a good time in the bar and eaten there as well. The staff was very good and the kitchen accommodated us by making food even though it had closed a few minutes before we arrived. Thank you! read more

This place is fantastic!!! I was treated like a king. The service and food had no equal. Curtis was very knowledgeable about the wine he educated me on. The chef turned my three corse experience into a five corse event. Thank you chef. The wait staff kind and attentive. I will come back to Cafe DuPont the next time I'm in D.C. read more

The Pembroke - Lemon Tart, yyuummmmyyy - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Love the location, sumptuously redesigned by the extremely Joel Freyberg. The ambiance is youthfully elegant and polished, the service attentive and polished. A new destination to grab drinks and food. The rooms and penthouse suit are so sexy you will never want to leave your room. The view breathtaking! We are awaiting with much anticipation the opening of Pembroke. Dupont circle is fun again thank you. read more

Went here for dinner with no preconceived notions about the place, price, service, or really anything, except there were some lovely people looking like they were having a blast sitting outside! I didn't realize that it was more on the expensive side...oops, but my cousin and I made it work! They offered us some bread which was nice and warm but I could have had some more...one piece is sort of measly... We ordered the Vegetable Tagliatelle, Mac n Cheese, and Mashed Potatoes. The pasta dish was very much like a thinner version of parpardelle and it had a very yummy simple savory sauce to it and it was cooked so nicely and just tasted really really good. The vegetables - spinach, sun dried tomatoes, carrots, etc. - were a great mix in the pasta! I will definitely eat this again...and the feta, ahh I looove feta! The macaroni and cheese was also very delicious not too creamy/oily and just right, maybe some bread crumbs on top would have been nice? No? okay, fine. It was still really good. The mashed potatoes were really just that...mashed potatoes...with pretty much no seasoning (didn't even feel like there was any butter in there...) or anything, maybe if they made them garlic mashed potatoes or added something they would have been a little different than something I can make at home. Service was at par - waiter wasn't too attentive but nothing that really bothered us too much. The atmosphere is very fun outside (although we sat sort of half out/in because of the wait) and sort of dateish/romantic inside lots of couples having a glass of wine with some cheese. I will go again! read more

Decent atmosphere, fantastic location. Food was nothing special, and certainly not worth the price tag. Except for one thing... the Cheese Plate! Next time, it might be the cheese plate and a bottle of wine. read more

Interesting and unique brunch menu. Very classy all around, from the staff to the little unopened glass ketchup bottles. Outdoor seating is nice, if you can get an umbrella, and are not situated near a loud speaker. read more

I've been to Bar Dupont many times and finally decided to check out Cafe Dupont this evening. When I arrived, the manager was great and checked us right in - The service was downhill from there. Our server came over about 15 minutes after we'd been seated and I ended up having to fill the silence and ask menu questions as she never introduced herself or asked if we had menu questions. When we'd finally ordered cocktails, she stood there silently for literally 30 seconds and then asked for ID. I'm 26 and this was flattering enough so I'll take it. Anyway, we presented, she glanced over and 10 more minutes later was back with some watered down blueberry gin and tonic drinks. Now for the food. The food was delicious (My girlfriend and I both had steaks after splitting an arugula and goat cheese salad) but once our appetizer had been cleared, they took our silverware and we had to wait 10 minutes to eat it until we asked for new silverware as well as the Bearnaise sauce that was supposed to accompany my meal. Meh. When we got our silverware, the runner asked if we'd like another round. We replied that we would and received them right after having our main course plates removed. Prompt! Finally at check time, our waitress made her third very brief and uninterested trip to our table and dropped off the bill: I had booked through Savored but that had not been noted on the bill. I flagged the manager, she helped, I still paid a hefty amount for what it was worth and my girlfriend and I were on our way. Overall I give this a 2: On food alone I'd say they were a 4 but the service was abyssmal, the waitress uninterested and communication between the staff haphazard at best. I was exhausted after directing the staff to make sure we had everything to actually eat and drink tonight: I earned my 30% off!! read more

This place is a great place to stop and have a nice relaxing meal in the hectic Dupont Circle area. We enjoyed a thick juicy perfectly cooked burger and a perfectly salted french onion soup after a cold day running around the National Mall. The service was a bit leisurely, but never the less delightful. the ambiance was relaxed and comfortable. Prices were reasonable, but not inexpensive. read more

Had a really good steak, salad and mashed potatoes with a nice Malbec. Simple, tasty and satisfying. Attentive staff, not crowded, nice music and low key dinner. They were even playing Charles Bradley - May he Rest In Peace - I appreciated the sights, the sounds and the tastes. read more

The Pembroke - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Bartenders were really friendly and energetic - GREAT start! Nice music. Loved the way they recommend what is a better drink - this means they want you to enjoy your time there. The bar was made to overlook Dupont - it looks very open and chic The wait staff at the restaurant was good - lots of cute waiters that know how to smile. Though there was one server that was a bit lost and broke some dishes but I guess that happens any place. The cute wait staff overrides the small imperfections. The escargot and foie gras was fine, though this is not something to write home about. The scallop over risotto was too rich, I had to eat it slowly. They have to work on the dessert - the soaked with tree cake with bourbon ice cream was underwhelming. I have to say the spacious wall of glass, the decor, and trendy flower arrangements were impressive,. I would try it for brunch with my honey or friends. read more

Fabulous martinis. Delicious food. Wonderful atmosphere. Whenever you are in Washington DC, you must have a meal at Cafe Dupont. Great for people watching as well. Staff is efficient and knowledgeable and accommodate all forms of dietary restrictions. Wow! read more

Had dinner and breakfast in here. Morning service is kinda slow but night service is great. Recommend to come during happy hour and order some snacks/tapas. Breakfast is quite small portion(yes, for an Asian girl, it's not enough Lol) read more

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I don't understand all the great reviews of this place! Brunch was mediocre at best. The hash browns I had were limp and soggy, my sunny side up eggs were over cooked, and the waiter (while attentive) was strangely robotic. This is also a hotel bar/restaurant, which we were unaware of--a FYI for others. Everything was edible, and service wasn't bad, but I didn't enjoy brunch as much as I hoped I would. read more

So sad to see such a pretty place have horrible service! The burger on the menu does not list that it includes bacon. A friend ordered it, it came with bacon and she doesn't eat pork. Returned it, no apologies or any care that the menu doesn't properly list it. She had to wait a really long time (the place was fairly empty) and the rest of our party had finished all their food. The manager watched us the entire time but didn't come apologize or check in on us either. read more