Diners' Choice: French restaurants in District of Columbia

OpenTable

Updated July 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall French cuisine in District of Columbia? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

La Piquette

4.9

4.9 (3111)

$31 to $50

French

Cleveland Park

About the restaurant

Dear Guests,
A neighborhood Bistrot located in Cleveland Park that stays faithful to its French roots offering the best French dishes on this side of the Atlantic
Executive Chef Francis Layrle prepares a daily menu with farm raised and seasonal fresh ingredients. The bar offers a carefully curated wine selection and house cocktails. La Piquette presents an authentic bistrot atmosphere the way it is meant to be: fun, simple and delicious.

Top review

KathleenVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Service was wonderful as always and the food was delicious! Manhattan and the house chardonnay were wonderful!! Thank you for always making us feel like regulars!

La Chaumiere

4.9

4.9 (5003)

$31 to $50

French

Georgetown

About the restaurant

La Chaumière is as close as it gets to dining in a French country inn. Celebrating 48 years, La Chaumière features traditional dishes like escargots en coquille, boudin blanc, quenelles of pike, cassoulet and Grand Marnier souffle. Chef Javier's specials reflect a modern approach to seasonal produce, seafood and game with favorites like baked oysters, Dover sole and our speciality, housemate Boudin Blanc. La Chaumière has won the 100 Best Restaurants award 29 times since 1978! We will be serving Al fresco as soon as the weather permits, please reserve, outdoor space is limited. Parking is available at the Four Seasons Hotel for $30 with validation stamp.

Top review

IsaacVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Excellent restaurant. However, I find a corkage fee of $50.00 obscenely high.

Chez Billy Sud

4.9

4.9 (3086)

$50 and over

French

Georgetown

About the restaurant

Welcome to Chez Billy Sud, your classic neighborhood French bistro in the heart of historic Georgetown!

We accept reservations for dinner on a rolling 30 day basis. Reservations can be made for parties up to 6 guests for bistro dining. Our private dining room can be reserved for large parties (7-16 guests) by contacting our event coordinator at events@chezbillysud.com. For general inquiries, please contact us at info@chezbillysud.com.

Depending on the weather, our patio is available on a first-come basis. Please check with your host upon arrival for patio seating.

Our Bar à Vin (located right next door) is open for dinner and drinks 7 days a week and requires no reservations.

Please visit our website ChezBillySud.com or check us out on Instagram @ChezBillySud.

We look to hosting you!

Top review

LindaVIP

Dined 7 days ago

Food was excellent and the service was friendly, informative, and efficient.

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4.8

4.8 (4033)

$31 to $50

French

Palisades Northwest

About the restaurant

Chef Claudio Pirollo is a chef driven restaurant offering Contemporary Belgian/French Bistro.

A DC staple for 15 years, with a friendly, neighborhood feel, you will feel welcome here for any occasion large or small. Our made from scratch menu is fresh, flavorful and offers something for everyone. From Classic European Bistro Cuisine to sophisticated daily Specials! Our bar covers handcrafted creative cocktails, with a large and high hand Wine List. Enjoy our cozy and energic dining room for an unforgettable experience .
We cannot wait to see you!

Top review

RezaVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Oscar was very professional and rendered excellent service.

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Bistrot Lepic & Wine Bar

4.8

4.8 (2698)

$31 to $50

French

Georgetown

About the restaurant

Dear guests,
Now open for Lunch, Brunch and Dinner from Tuesday to Sunday for dining in, carry-outs and delivery through Door-Dash and UberEats.
Celebrating its 30th year Anniversary, this Grand Little restaurant is definitely part of Georgetown’s culinary landscape!
We are offering classic, regional and contemporary French cuisine.
At the Wine Bar, you will feel as comfortable and relaxed as you would in your home.
For Jazz night, please request a table in the Wine Bar. The Jazz performances are every Wednesday nights, from 6pm to 9pm.
A 3% service fee has been added to all guest checks and will be used to cover the increasing server wages.
This fee is not a tip.
Visit our Sister Bistrot, La Piquette on 3714 Macomb Street Nw. in Cleveland Park - Tel: 202 686 2015 - info@lapiquettedc.com

Top review

PatrickVIP

Dined 5 days ago

We held a very special dinner celebration and Cyril and the staff were wonderful. All details were attended to. Beverages and food were exquisite. The wine recommended was excellent. This is a special venue that is perfect for a special occasion.

Bistrot Du Coin

4.7

4.7 (886)

$30 and under

French

Dupont Circle

About the restaurant

Located in Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C., Bistrot Du Coin serves up delicious French cuisine. Its very relaxed setting features picnic-style table cloths and a second floor to accommodate a packed house. Owners Yannis Felix and Michel Verdon opened Bistrot Du Coin's doors in 2000 for patrons to converse and have fun while enjoying their meals. It offers hearty starters such as French onion soup and fresh, crisp salads, steamed mussels and sautéed foie gras. Veal stew in a creamy sauce, braised chicken in white wine and pan-seared salmon topped with a fresh herb sauce are filling main courses to try.

Bistrot Du Coin hosts parties to celebrate popular French events throughout the year, and it serves brunch on the weekend with its own menu. This restaurant has an extensive wine list, but also offers cocktails and apéritif. It is open year-round and welcomes reservations.

Top review

Dale

Dined on Jun 28, 2025

Made reservations for 2. Was seated along the front with street view! The restaurant is the typical older building high ceilings with an upstairs “loft area. Generally poor acoustics. Atmosphere is lively and homey much like a neighborhood restaurant. The food was excellent the table had the bœuf bourguignon and the Ora King salmon. Both superb and tasty paired with a good French Bordeaux wine and a crisp Italian Pinot Greco. Desert was a great experience fresh peach & strawberries in fresh vanilla Ice Cream topped with whipped cream. Ending with after diner/dessert Port. Food and ambience topped by an excellent service staff.

Petite Cerise

4.7

4.7 (271)

$31 to $50

French

Mount Vernon Square

About the restaurant

Part neighborhood café, part energetic bistro, Petite Cerise is located in a bright and lively historic corner space in Shaw/Mount Vernon Triangle. Petite Cerise features separate à la carte menus for brunch, lunch, and dinner. In addition, Petite Cerise has a Coffee Counter open Tuesday - Friday opening at 8am serving classic coffee and espresso preparations, housemade pastries, and other breakfast items to go or sit down.

Dinner offers both an à la carte menu along with a Prix Fixe option. The focus in the evening is to craft unique and innovative dishes utilizing the very best ingredients within the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond skillfully prepared through a French lens.

If you decide to join us for a morning coffee, quick mid-day bite, stretch out your lunch over a glass of wine, or gather with friends for an indulgent and creative dinner, we invite you here to celebrate and enjoy.

Top review

Andrew

Dined 2 days ago

Exceptional food and great service. Sitting at the downstairs tables next to the open kitchen is a great experience.

Bistro Cacao

4.8

4.8 (3413)

$31 to $50

French

Capitol Hill

About the restaurant

Bistro Cacao has been serving modern French cuisine to DC customers in Capitol Hill since 2009. Charming décor with velvet curtained walls in Red Room and Rouge Room gave Bistro Cacao it's fame as the most Romantic Restaurant in DC.
Serving brunch, lunch and dinner indoor and in its charming patio. Bar on the first floor is also the go-to place for the neighborhood.

Top review

Brian

Dined on Jun 12, 2025

Wonderful ambiance and red wine collection. Well worth the visit

La Bise

4.6

4.6 (982)

$31 to $50

French

Downtown

About the restaurant

Welcome to La Bise, a modern, bright, and colorful 21st century French restaurant with Japanese inspiration in the heart of Washington, DC. Just steps from the White House, patrons can enjoy our expanded outdoor patio, inviting bar, and an engaging, open-air kitchen with two distinctive dining room options. Enjoy our unique wine list of French and American regions featuring both old and new world selections.

Top review

Paul

Dined 4 days ago

Great French food Good drinks & menu Service was excellent

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Bistro Du Jour District Wharf

4.6

4.6 (621)

$30 and under

French

Southwest Waterfront

About the restaurant

The way we French ...

Bistro Du Jour is an all-day Parisian bistro serving traditional fare like Coq Au Vin, Croque Madame, French Onion Soup, Steak Frites and Duck Confit, as well as an extensive selection of bubbly and an exciting list of cocktails and aperitifs. Open for Breakfast, Weekend Brunch, Lunch and Dinner.

Note: We offer full serving dining during Dinner (Daily) and Weekend Brunch only. During Breakfast (Daily) & Lunch (Weekday)

Top review

GinnyVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Lovely brunch on the waterfront in a pleasant setting. The wait staff was great to handle our group efficiently so that we could make the matinee at Arena Stage.

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