A few weeks ago I finally made it out to DC’s newest french restaurant. Ever since hearing of L’hommage Bistro Francais’ opening, it quickly made it onto my list of places to taste test. A confluence of events lead to this dinner at L’hommage: proximity to my apartment, chilly weather perfect for hearty French cuisine, and a free evening with a close friend I hadn’t seen in recent memory. We stepped inside and were impressed with the sheer size of the place. The main dining room seats 170 in addition to a bar area where happy hour is available Monday–Thursday, 4–11 PM; Friday 4–7 PM. Red banquettes lined the sides of the room, white tablecloths draped bistro tables, and glowing orbs hung decoratively from the ceiling, evoking a cozy, Parisian feel.

As all good meals tend to start off, we first ordered a round of drinks. The wine list was quite extensive, featuring over 200 French wines, but despite the impressive lineup, we opted for drinks from the cocktail menu – the French 75 and 40% French. We found both to be refreshing with just the right amount of sweetness, a fortuitous start to the meal.
After perusing the menu, we settled on the Escargot (butter, parsley, garlic) and Steak Tartare (hand chopped tenderloin, capers, cornichon) for appetizers. The tartare, buttery and tasty with a slight tang from the capers, was accompanied with toast and was a wonderful beginning to the meal. My friend had never before tried escargot, and as someone who grew up eating all kinds of mollusks, it’s always interesting to gauge a person’s reaction during their first escargot experience. After a few pensive moments, she declared them to be delicious.

The menu pays tribute to classic French dishes, such as Boeuf Bourguignon, Coq Au Vin, and Bouillabaisse, and for our entrees, we chose Steak Frites and Ravioli aux Ecrevisses. The steak was cooked perfectly and was paired with Pommes Frites and a watercress salad, which was a nice contrast to the heavier items and sauces on the plate. The crayfish ravioli was definitely a decadent dish: crayfish filled pasta topped with lobster black truffle glace. This was about the time when the dinner conversation came to a lull as we were both too consumed with our dishes to pay each other much attention. Not one for ordering desserts, I accepted the menu as a nicety, but soon caved at the sight of vanilla creme brulee, which also came highly recommended by our server, and the rest is history. Throughout our meal, the service was attentive and thoughtful, complementing our enjoyable dining experience.

Don’t have time for a full, sit-down meal? The bistro features a boulangerie conveniently situated next to the main dining room. It offers fresh bread and pastries made daily, in-house as well as a full coffee menu, to-go sandwiches, and other snacks. The boulangerie is open daily 7 AM–8 PM.

With approachable French comfort food, L’hommage has a lot to offer to the growing Mount Vernon Square neighborhood. Come springtime (or the next 60-degree winter day), you can find me seated at one of the patio tables sipping on French 75s.

L’hommage Bistro Francais, 450 K St.; 202-791-0916

Photos by Lanna Nguyen