Le Sel

Name: Le Sel
Address: 1315 16th St NW, Washington, DC, United States, 20005-2205
Telephone: (202) 234-6390
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.1

4.1

107 Reviews

$31 to $50

French

Top Tags:

Le Sel is an authentic gathering place rooted in the fabric of DC’s dynamic culture. Serving approachable French classics with a twist, this reimagined French bistro offers an intimate and energetic environment just steps from Dupont and Logan Circle.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Sep 22, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 9 times today

Experiences are available.

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Cuisines
French, French American
Hours of operation
Breakfast Mon–Sat 7:00 am–10:30 am Brunch Sun 7:00 am–3:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–11:00 pm
Phone number
(202) 234-6390
Website
http://www.leseldc.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual
Executive chef
Walter Silva
Catering
PLANNING AN EVENT? Request a Proposal Let us help you organize a custom meeting that's anything but business as usual. Just email us at Sales@thebanneker.com or call us at 202-234-6393, and an expert member of our team will be in touch to guide you through all the details to ensure your event is a success.
Private party facilities
PLANNING AN EVENT? Request a Proposal Let us help you organize a custom meeting that's anything but business as usual. Just email us at Sales@thebanneker.com or call us at 202-234-6393, and an expert member of our team will be in touch to guide you through all the details to ensure your event is a success.

Location
1315 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20005-2205
Neighborhood
Dupont Circle
Cross street
16th St NW & O Street NW
Parking details
O and P St
Public transit
Dupont Circle Station
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

Sunday Brunch
$40.00 per person
Multiple dates available
Join us every Sunday for Le Sel's fabulous Sunday brunch. Indulge in favorites such as decadent French toast, creamy avocado toast, heavenly croque monsieur, and more. Enjoy live jazz and feel the buzz of the city while dining on our outdoor patio. Top it off with a mimosa or two and Sunday will become your new favorite day! Menu Price is a la carte and excludes alcoholic drinks. $40 is an estimate Price based of the highest priced item and does not include additional items, service charge and local taxes. View here https://bit.ly/44h9viy.

What 107 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.1

4.1 based on recent ratings

4.2Food
3.8Service
4.2Ambience
3.6Value

Noise • Moderate

107 Reviews

o
osvaldos
Phoenix
5 reviews
vip
1.0
5 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
overall1food3service1ambience1
It took the waiter 30 minutes to bring me a glass of wine. Then, it him another 30 minutes to bring my meal. And, restaurant was almost empty with only two other tables.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
London
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined 5 days ago
overall3food4service2ambience4
Good food, bad service! Not sure if they're new but our drinks took forever and they were the wrong order. They were also out of the dish we all wanted to order (jumbo crab hash)
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m
marley
Washington DC
8 reviews
3.0
8 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
overall3food2service3ambience3
A lovely space, great outdoor Terrace and indoor seating. Lighting was good, service very good and food would have been great if it hadn’t been too salty! Way too much salt .
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on September 3, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience5
Food is terrific. Portions are small. Ordered the lychee cocktail and somehow it showed up with a pickled onion in it instead👎🏿
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on August 29, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Everything was good, the food was tasty and nice!
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L
Loyalcustomer
Washington DC
97 reviews
vip
4.0
97 reviews
Dined on August 25, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
Very nice dinner and excellent service, we shall be back!!!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 24, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Cibo veramente molto buono e impiattamento sofisticato e magico. Personale accogliente e disponibile. Inoltre abbiamo conosciuto il cuoco, molto amichevole e simpatico che ci ha spiegato la nuova preparazione dell’anatra. Location da favola.
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LH
LaurenH
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on August 23, 2023
overall4food3service4ambience5
We had a reservation for breakfast, but we had to wait ten minutes before being seated despite there being only two to three tables of customers and at least three members of staff working the floor. I ordered the pastry platter. The filling of the eclairs and the choux puffs was thick and gluey with little sweetness, and three of the desserts incorporated this filling. It was disappointing.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 17, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience4
The food was great and the waiter was very attentive to our needs
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P
Patricia1949
New York Area
63 reviews
vip
5.0
63 reviews
Dined on August 5, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience4
The Chef is skilled! Great food and superb presentation. A gastronomic pleasure. Thank you.
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TA
TheodoreA
Greater Boston
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on June 27, 2023
overall3food4service1ambience2
Good modern French food. Poor forgetful service, rarely checked in on, couldn't order second drink
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JI
JodyIndy
Indiana
18 reviews
vip
5.0
18 reviews
Dined on June 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Absolutely delightful dinner at this French bistro - we sat at a table on the outdoor patio. The lighting was lovely, and nice potted plants helped define the space and offer privacy from the street/sidewalk. The setting of Sel is so nice, and the menu offers plenty of options while also keeping it simple. We had a baguette w/ fresh, deliciously whipped butter and a sampling of different salts, then we had a gorgeous dish with prawns and a fresh, bright green sauce (sort of a salsa verde) as well as a seared octopus appetizer. Our entrees included a classic steak frites and a beautifully prepared roasted half chicken with broccolini. Our cocktail and wine choices were spot on. Above all, we enjoyed the friendly and knowledgeable service which was attentive and personalized. Huge thanks to our wonderful server, Emma and to Chef Walter, who came out to check on us and describe the preparations. You have a reason to be proud of your efforts. Congratulations, you made quite a great impression.
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RS
RSRH
Washington DC
23 reviews
vip
5.0
23 reviews
Dined on May 24, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Dinner at Le Sel is always DELICIOUS!! We have been there for Valentine's Day and on week nights, and it has been consistently perfect.
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CS
CharlestonSC
Charleston
14 reviews
3.0
14 reviews
Dined on May 2, 2023
overall3food3service4ambience4
Service attention was good. Food was just okay. Recommend the salt bread and the carpaccio. Do not recommend the mussels- a bit overdone and not much flavor.
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h
hpf30
New York Area
46 reviews
vip
3.0
46 reviews
Dined on April 13, 2023
overall3food3service3ambience4
Just ate their for breakfast. Limited menu small portions for the price. Attentive service
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J
Jude
Washington DC
10 reviews
vip
2.0
10 reviews
Dined on April 5, 2023
overall2food2service5ambience2
The fish was delicious, but... that's all there was on the plate. Not one piece of anything just a piece of fish for over $30. The space is small and brightly lit. I prefer less bright light when having dinner out. They were out of several items we would have like to have ordered. It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't great.
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JB
JBee
Washington DC
38 reviews
vip
3.0
38 reviews
Dined on April 4, 2023
overall3food4service3ambience2
Strange experience. I had a reservation and waited at the host station to be seated for a while even though many staff people saw me. We were a table of two and were seated across from a table of 12 or so. As the group started arriving at the large table, we asked to move to a quieter area. Why were we placed so close to a group, to begin with? The food was fine. The scotch available was mid-quality, but the charge for top shelf. We probably won't be returning.
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SC
ShaynaC
Washington DC
5 reviews
vip
4.0
5 reviews
Dined on March 31, 2023
overall4food5service5ambience5
We had a lovely time here ona. Friday night. The serve and the food were amazing. Juan Carlos was our server and bar tender and he was excellent and patient. Thanks again for making such a great experience
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A
Andrew
New York Area
12 reviews
vip
2.0
12 reviews
Dined on March 18, 2023
overall2food3service2ambience1
We came to Le Sel back in December and it wasn't a great experience, but we're staying in the same hotel and so decided to give it another chance. That was a mistake. Most of the issues we experienced last time were repeated this time. But, for the positive, we do have to say that it was lovely of the restaurant to provide a glass of bubbly for our anniversary, so thank you so much for that. Beyond that though, there were so many issues. Despite there being barely any customers, service was painfully slow. The wait staff were super lovely and friendly but everything was delayed, slow, and not in the order we asked for things. We waited a long time for our order to be taken, and then an inordinate amount of time for the food to arrive. When ordered, we asked for food to be delivered all at the same time. It wasn't. Not even close. The gnocchi entree, for $30+ was the size of a small appetizer and such bad value for the money. The shrimp appetizer, which I had last time, did not come with the bread as it did before, so I asked what happened and if I could have some bread. 10 minutes (and cold shrimp) later, the bread arrived, with no mention that I would be charged for it. But, when we got the bill, we saw they added a charge for the bread. Not acceptable. All in all, a pretty shambolic experience. Average quality food that took an unacceptably long time to be ordered and cooked. Then to charge for something that was (just 12 weeks ago) part of the dish? Not the best way to get people back to the restaurant.
Le SelResponded on March 18, 2023
Thank you for answering my phone call to discuss this matter. Once again, I would like to extend my sincere apology for the service you and your partner received last night on your special day. We at The Banneker aim to provide excellent service to our customers at all times, and we sadly fell short at this incident. I've noted all of your points and will handle your complaint promptly. I will be reaching out to you via email shortly. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to mend the situation
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a
amiratee
New York Area
5 reviews
4.0
5 reviews
Dined on March 14, 2023
overall4food5service5ambience3
The food was really excellent. I had the onion soup, cornmeal gnocchi and pear tart. The gnocchi in particular was incredible; I've never had anything like it, The portions seems very small at first but left room for dessert. The pear tart was tasty though not too sweet; the pistachio butter was a bit confusing. The setting of the restaurant was fine, but a little bit of a cafe setting that didnt quite do justice to the food. Wanted better lighting and maybe an area away from white tile floors. Very nice and efficient service.
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A
Ahmed
Washington DC
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on March 12, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
If you're looking for a great dining experience, look no further than Le Sel! The food is absolutely delicious, and the service is top-notch. The waitstaff are not only extremely professional, but they're also super friendly and always willing to go above and beyond to ensure that you have a fantastic meal. What's more, the atmosphere of the restaurant is simply lovely. It's quiet and cozy, making it the perfect place to enjoy a romantic dinner for two or a fun night out with friends. We had a great time my wife and I and we will definitely come back again. Overall, I highly recommend Le Sel to anyone looking for a fantastic dining experience. With delicious food, excellent service, and a beautiful atmosphere, it's sure to be a hit with anyone who loves great food and great company. Thank you all for such an amazing night!!!
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o
osvaldos
Phoenix
5 reviews
vip
3.0
5 reviews
Dined on February 22, 2023
overall3food4service4ambience2
This was an OK French restaurant. Food was ok but the ambiance was not what I had expected. There were only two customers in the restaurant and I was one of them. It felt very exposed with windows facing the street. It certainly did not have the coziness that I expected from a French restaurant.
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S
Sedrick
Washington DC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
I can say my experience being there for Valentine’s Day with my girlfriend was great, I had her smiling from ear to ear. The food was so amazing that we wanted seconds and the customer service was on point.
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H
Hades
Raleigh
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on February 12, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We went to Le Sel for our anniversary. Our interaction with the host was very pleasant. Once we sat down, we were served the beautiful, smart, and delicious food that talented Chef Silva created. Every dish was paired by Juan Carlos, an excellent bartender that understands the nuances of food and liquor. We found our spot in DC and will eat and drink at Le Sel often.
Le SelResponded on February 13, 2023
Hades Thank You so much for your kind words!!! We were so happy to host you for your anniversary. I will let Juan Carlos and Chef Walter know how they made your experience amazing, look forward to seeing you soon!
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D
Danw
Washington DC
5 reviews
vip
4.0
5 reviews
Dined on January 21, 2023
overall4food4service3ambience4
Went during restaurant week. Food was good - servers seemed young /inexperienced as they brought food we didn’t order to our table, brought a following course when we had just been provided the previous course, and interrupted our eating a few times to ask if we were done when we clearly had more than half our food left. It’s a nice restaurant with good food and friendly staff. Rooftop bar is nice too with gas fire pits.
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f
franco
Baltimore
35 reviews
vip
4.0
35 reviews
Dined on December 24, 2022
overall4food5service5ambience2
Not a soul there. Almost didnt go in. Food and service were excellent.
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EM
ElizabethM
New York Area
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 21, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
The food was incredible, the salmon and chicken thighs are some of the best I’ve ever had. The salmon’s skin was crispy and the sauce was delicious. The chicken thighs were seasoned perfectly and juicy. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a tasty meal.
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j
jaytay
Philadelphia
9 reviews
vip
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on December 14, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fantastic service , drinks and food. Wonderfully surprising because it is a hotel restaurant
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K
Kidfree89hangingout
Washington DC
17 reviews
4.0
17 reviews
Dined on December 3, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience3
Went there for our wedding anniversary meal…the staff was great! The hostess and the servers really took care of us! Food was delicious- would definitely go back!
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d
debra
Orlando
119 reviews
vip
5.0
119 reviews
Dined on October 26, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We enjoyed two breakfasts on different days....the gentlemen hosts and waitstaff were excellent. Best of breakfast....the oatmeal...which was so much more than basic oatmeal
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ML
MatthewL
Washington DC
3 reviews
vip
2.0
3 reviews
Dined on October 14, 2022
overall2food4service1ambience2
We went on a Friday night at 730pm to arrive to the restaurant with lights on blast no ambiance. Upon seating it seemed like there was only one wine list for the whole place (4 tables occupied) as they had to grab it from another table. Ordered a nice $100 bottle of Cab and the server bought the house $35 bottle. I didn’t notice till after opening and at that point whatever. I could tell I shouldn’t get a large bottle anyways. It took 20min for them to come back and take orders and didn’t seem to attentive. Throughout the meal no one came to the table, no one cleared appetizer plates or anything so by the end of the meal there was no room on the table. It was very poor service. Shame too as the food was good and great portions. We had steaks, French Soup, mussels and then desert. All good. Just poor front of house service.
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C
Colin
Atlanta Metro
6 reviews
2.0
6 reviews
Dined on October 8, 2022
overall2food4service1ambience3
Extremely poor service. We had to ask for the check three times and couldn’t get a refill of water because the servers only catered to larger groups despite only 4 groups in the restaurant. We will not go back here again since so many other better options exist in the area.
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t
tony
Washington DC
14 reviews
vip
5.0
14 reviews
Dined on September 15, 2022
overall5food5service4ambience5
Tasty food and drink. Needed better hostess service though
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on August 21, 2022
overall5food5service4ambience5
Food is wonderful with elements of both French and American breakfasts.
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S
Stephanie
Washington DC
4 reviews
3.0
4 reviews
Dined on August 9, 2022
overall3food2service4ambience3
Good service but both the food and cocktails were underwhelming, especially for the price. There were maybe 1-2 other tables occupied, very empty, which kind of killed the vibe.
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K
Keith
Washington DC
16 reviews
vip
2.0
16 reviews
Dined on July 9, 2022
overall2food1service3ambience3
Disappointing food. The mussels were in a sauce that was as exciting as dishwasher. The mussels were poorly cooked. Definitely not worth the over priced menu.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on July 8, 2022
overall2food2service4ambience5
Decor was wonderful and service was good. I would recommend for cocktails but there are better locations in the area for food.
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M
Mary
Greater Boston
15 reviews
vip
2.0
15 reviews
Dined on May 27, 2022
overall2food5service4ambience3
Tried to call restaurant multiple times. Could never get through. There is a full service bar but they didn’t have club soda for mixed drinks.
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CF
CatherineF
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on May 20, 2022
overall3food2service4ambience1
Ambience was exceedingly average and the food was nothing special. The prices would indicate something far nicer. Our server was perfectly lovely. We went here for a business meeting and the client we brought expressed how unimpressed he was… ouch!
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KC
KarinC
Raleigh
2 reviews
1.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 8, 2022
overall1food1service1ambience1
We never had a server approach us until we asked for service ourselves. The server was foreign and did not know the job nor the menu. I asked her to write down our order since she did not bring a note pad and pen. She came back after 40 minutes saying that there was a mistake and that our order was never put in or processed in the kitchen. She asked me what our order was again and I had to write it down for her on her own notepad. We were charged for a meal we never ordered. A disaster!!! Worst Mothers Day Brunch ever!
1 person found this helpful

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
Physical distancing
- Distancing maintained in common areas

Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace
- Staff temperature check required

FAQs

Le Sel is rated 4.1 stars by 107 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Sep 22, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 9 times today

Experiences are available.

1315 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20005-2205

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross street
16th St NW & O Street NW
Neighborhood
Dupont Circle
Hours of operation
Breakfast Mon–Sat 7:00 am–10:30 am Brunch Sun 7:00 am–3:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–11:00 pm
Cuisines
French, French American
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
O and P St
Public transit
Dupont Circle Station
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Walter Silva
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.leseldc.com/
Phone number
(202) 234-6390
Catering
PLANNING AN EVENT? Request a Proposal Let us help you organize a custom meeting that's anything but business as usual. Just email us at Sales@thebanneker.com or call us at 202-234-6393, and an expert member of our team will be in touch to guide you through all the details to ensure your event is a success.
Private party facilities
PLANNING AN EVENT? Request a Proposal Let us help you organize a custom meeting that's anything but business as usual. Just email us at Sales@thebanneker.com or call us at 202-234-6393, and an expert member of our team will be in touch to guide you through all the details to ensure your event is a success.

Le Sel

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information

Experiences

Sunday Brunch

Menu

What 107 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing

Physical distancing

Screening

FAQs

How is Le Sel restaurant rated?

Is Le Sel currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information