Bistrot Du Coin

Amazing place!!! food is amazing reminds me back of France. The creamy mushroom soup is to die for super creamy and delicious very filling as well. The curry mussel pot with frites were absolutely enticing. The baguette is warm, fresh and delicious. The decor is splendid with all the French posters. Overall amazing experience only thing they need to work on is with their servers to be more attentive.

BDC is my favorite spot for French food! For a bone chillingly cold day, I ordered a French onion soup. Then hanger steak medium rare with shallot compote & red wine sauce and fries. Wishing my stomach had more room for some mussels and escargot, but I was already stuffed!

Escargot was delicious! Came in for some snacking! But real surprise was the mussels au roquerfort! Changed the way I like my mussels! Would do again! And they were so large and flavorful! Kept dipping the dries in the jus!

My husband’s all time favorite place in DC! So it was the obvious choice to celebrate our anniversary there! My first time and I absolutely loved it! Having lived in Brussels this French bistro reminds me of the bistros in Brussels! Simply loved it! From our starters to the mains!! Highly recommend anyone to visit and enjoy true French cuisine!

Absolutely lovely. The food was amazing and the bread was so fresh and warm. Highly recommend getting some pieces to dip in your leftover cheese. Not a cool date night vibe, but definitely cozy and familiar. Staff is very attentive, but let you enjoy your meal and the atmosphere. Looking forward to returning even if it’s just for the bread.

Casual, well-lit atmosphere. The escargot and the ravioli are both delicious. I wasn't thrilled with the mussels but maybe it's just the pot I chose (traditional white wine was a bit boring).

I adore French cafes and this one did not disappoint! The vibe is super French. The mussels are fabulous! THE BREAD was AMAZING. Service was top notch and we enjoyed a delightful dinner here. Prices are reasonable. Highly recommend!

Good food, friendly and efficient staff, incredibly quick service. My favorite was the French onion soup. I got the chocolate mousse to go, which was also fantastic. The restaurant was busy, but they are a very well-oiled machine and I still got great customer service. Definitely recommend!

Incredible authentic French food in the heart of Dupont Circle. I make a point to go if I am in the area, and it does not disappoint. A true gem.

Like the famous Katz Deli in NYC, this place is the French version of that. Just amazing through and through. The most homey French food (and surprisingly huge portions) in a well lit family style red checkered tablecloth setting, and a full huge bar, we felt like we were somewhere just outside of Paris, like Nice, maybe. Service is very French too haha (or Dutch?). We had the French Onion soup which was the best I’ve ever had, delicious cheese top and hearty juicy onion soup. The seafood ravioli was my personal favorite - the veggies and shrimp and pasta and cheese and mushrooms in lobster sauce made such a rich taste, very filling too. And the Cassoulet de Bistrotier stands out too as a front runner, so tasty and hot, exceptional sausage, pork fat, and strong delicious lamb flavors on top of the beans. Just exceptional food. Enjoy every bite.

Great brunch experience here on a Saturday. The food comes out so fast! The coffee is decent, free refills. They have a LOT of seating here so that is a plus. The decor here is very authentic to its establishment and feels rather cozy. The sausage came out looking undercooked (see photo) but it may just be the coloring of the sausage. Either way it was it that appealing compared to the omelet. Photos as of May 2019.

One of my absolute favorite French restaurants to visit when I am in Washington DC. French food and style without the stuffiness. An electric, almost rowdy atmosphere at times, this place has outstanding food at realistic prices. If you are in DC and a fan of French cuisine, you need to try this place out.

This spot came recommended from a local and it did not disappoint. It’s an older style place with random decorations. However, the food was exceptional and absolutely worth a visit. I had the trout and it was amazing. The other 3 had the coqa vin and it was great as well.

We had the Mussels and the Steak Au Poivre as main course. For desert we ordered the Creme Brûlée. Everything was served quickly and tasted great! Highly recommend this place!

At the recommendation of a friend, we dined at Bistrot du Coin Friday evening. We dined at the bar and received great service from the bar tender and waitstaff. It was hard choosing from the array of dishes on the menu. We had the Entrecôte Grille and the Pave du Saumon. The presentation of the seared salmon was lovely, with ancient grains pilaf topped with shiitake and light, tasty ginger & lemongrass white wine sauce. The Entrecôte Grille steak was a ribeye, that was tender and well marbled, and the frites were our favorites in DC. We now understand why Bistrot du Coin has been a DC favorite for 25 years. We look forward to returning soon.

Classic French done right. The place is loud in the best way, packed, lively, and feels like it’s been there forever. I had the trout, escargot, and a glass (or two) of wine. Everything came out perfectly cooked, and full of flavor. The service had that unbothered confidence you only get at real Parisian spots. Great for a long dinner that doesn’t feel rushed or staged — just good food, good wine, and a real crowd.

We’ve been there twice in the last week. Had the Onglet w/delicious sauce, accompanied by fries. The Onglet was the best I’ve had in many years, anywhere… and the price- it can’t be beat! This will become our regular place for sure.

Just had such a good meal here. We hadn't been here in years, after moving to another part of the city. So glad we ventured back! The steak was cooked perfectly, the bernaise sauce and fries were to die for, and the vibe was spot on. Highly reccommend!

We had a wonderful experience at this restaurant! It was also a lovely encounter! Michel and his team cultivate French culture and conviviality in a high-end brasserie atmosphere. You can taste it in every dish. Thank you again, we will definitely be back!

Relaxed bistro with top quality food. Our server was very attentive and friendly even though he was dealing with another group of overly demanding people. We started with the French ravioli which s not to be missed. The cassoulet was excellent. The mussels were plump and sweet. The roast chicken moist and tasty. The trout light and flaky with a rich sauce.

We have been coming here for years to decompress and talk shop, and the charm of the place never seems to wear thin. The mussels remain the undisputed highlight of the evening, arriving in steaming pots that hit the spot immediately after a grueling day of planning and storytelling. It feels like a genuine slice of a Parisian corner tucked away in DC, providing a warm backdrop for a bunch of old beltway hackers to argue about the past and future. The service is efficient and the energy is infectious!

The food was out of this world. The escargot and pate was superb. The drinks were good. The place was packed. We asked to sit upstairs. My boyfriend enjoyed the mussels. The service was good but slow because it was so crowded.

Very much was a welcoming place. Lots of seating and decorations. There was a ton of noise though that really made the mood lower since me and my plugs couldn't hear each other. Food was extremely good and I highly recommend it even if the price is really high. It almost made me excuse their fake French accents.

French food finally impressed. Fantastic lamb stew. Do not expect much if you don’t eat meat or even if you don’t eat beef / pork. Ambiance is rather gray. Pricing is high. Good wine okay service (also cute little wine glasses!!)

So busy that we were glad we made a reservation on a Friday night! Atmosphere is appropriate and very packed! They’re obviously trying to take advantage of every square inch. It’d be better if the lost a few tables and gave more room to move around. It was still a nice highlight for my daughter in law’s visit. Food was amazing. Served hot and timely. Wine was appropriately priced.

Nice traditional French cuisine. Escargot and mussels were delicious. The steaks were very salty and they actually made a new ribeye steak for us to take away when we gave them feedback of the extremely salty grilled steak. Normal prices. One thing, the server was not helpful on wine information when asked. My friend was not happy. So that’s why the 4-star.

This is a very interesting restaurant. Hundreds of French pictures and trinkets fill the walls. You will definitely get a feel of French culture when visiting this restaurant. The staff are great! They were all accommodating, and very friendly! It was packed, but the waitstaff made their way around to check on us very frequently. The food I tried was okay. I wasn’t amazed, but it wasn’t terrible. I’d definitely give them another try, I just wasn’t impressed today. They do have a great wine and cocktail selection though.

A Restaurant staples that has been around since I got into DC 20 years ago and it's still going strong. It has a huge menu and the wait staff has been there just as well. Note it's pricy going a la carte and the volume in there can be 10/10.

My steak was overcooked but I think it was just bad luck. I was impressed by the snails and mussels-- they were really good. Drinks and wine selection is diverse. Place tends to be crowded frequently so make sure you make a reservation if you can.

I have mixed feelings about Bistrot du Coin these days. But in summary, the food was good (not great) and quite filling. (As a reminder, I only rate places based on the food and nothing else like service or price. But I will mention them if notable and could be helpful to potential visitors.) I visited the restaurant the first time 10 years ago and it was delicious! I went multiple times with friends, family, and a few dates. The escargot was always my favorite. I would alternate my meals between mussels, coq au vin, or something new. So I was very excited to visit the bistro again after a 6 year hiatus and I ordered the escargot of course and the coq au vin. I was not blown away as I once was, unfortunately! The food was good, don't get me wrong, but it was not the same quality as I remember it being. Freshness was likely the culprit. The food didn't taste like fresh ingredients were used and more like it was made way ahead of time and heated up again. I still ate it all and I was satisfied but it really wasn't a meal to write home about. Maybe it was just an off night. Or maybe their fresh produce supplier changed or something like that. If I'm in the Dupont area again, maybe I'll give it another try because I really loved the place way back when I moved to DC. It would be really sad if this is the norm but small businesses should be supported and I understand there are bad days and good days. I hope this was just a rare bad day. On a side note, although it doesn't impact my review of the place, the service was pretty atrocious. I don't know if they will continue getting return customers if the service we experienced recently is also the new norm. For anyone looking for other French cuisine options in the area I highly recommend Central Michel Richard (Downtown DC, kinda pricey), Bistro du Jour (at DC wharf, great French onion soup), Josephine (in Old Town Alexandria, everything so good and very fresh tasting, kinda pricey), and my favorite Bistro Sancerre (in Old Town Alexandria, great escargot, food in general very good, amazing desserts, and price is very reasonable).

Fantastic food, very nice to find classic French cuisine without the stuffy upscale vibe. Great wine selection, long dessert menu. Pretty crowded on a Friday evening, tables were very close together so it was loud.

Steak frites were just okay, it was cooked very well (I asked for medium and it was exactly that and tender), but the seasoning was a bit off-too much of a charcoal taste for my liking. Offering a side of Dijon mustard would’ve made it a little more authentic. The snails were excellent, and the rabbit in the rabbit stew was very tender, although it did get a bit rich towards the end. Ambiance is great, service is quick

Food was ok. Monkfish was dry, grains under seasoned. House salad was pretty good. Dessert - peche Melba - was good but way overpriced for what amounted to a couple slices of peach sitting in ice cream and whipped cream. Service was great. Vibes feels very casual.

My husband and I went back for dessert after he'd had dinner there with coworkers. We ordered 3 items, but only 2 ever came. The wait for those 2 was a little long, bit nothing compared to how long we waited after finishing those before we realized that not only was our 3rd item not coming, but our server wasn't coming back either. I had to ask the host for our check. It was about 45 minutes before closing, so maybe that was a factor, the service had been better a couple hours before when my husband's work group had dinner. I did really enjoy the food. We had the profiteroles and the mont-blanc mouse. We had hoped to try the Crême Broulée but it never came.

We came here because my cousin loves lemon tarts and remembers having a good one here some years ago. We ordered 3 dishes: Moules marinieres with fries, steak with fries, Coq au vin with gratine dauphinois. The Coq au Vin was perfect in every way. The flavor was deep, intense without being overwhelming, the meat juicy and nicely cooked, it is likely the best Coq au Vin I have ever had. The gratine dauphinois was seasoned with nutmeg which is not original to this restaurant but still a masterful stroke of flavor balance. I dont generally care for creamy potatoes but I was very glad I tried this. Unfortunately, this was the end of the good experiences . The fries were soggy and overcooked, it seemed as though they had been refried in an attempt to refresh them. Because my aunt asked for a well done steak she got meat so overcooked it was tough and dry and could not be redeemed by the bearnaise, now I'm willing to forgive the revenge cooking of the steak when it has been ordered inappropriately but when I started finding grating bits very reminiscent of sand while eating my mussels I was thoroughly disappointed. It wasn't so sandy as to be inedible but there were more than 5 in my large order of mussels which were quite the unpleasant surprise. The final nail was the dessert. We ordered the tarte au citron and a tarte tatin. Both crusts were wet without any crunch whatsoever, the flavor was passable but could not redeem the failed texture, the topping meringue was very dry but both fillings were fine. The service was ok for the most part and occasionally even good but there were so many inexcusable faults with the food that I just cannot see myself returning here which is a shame because I am not likely to forget that Coq au vin anytime soon.

I went here for brunch with a friend and did not feel it was anything special. I did enjoy how we were able to sit immediately. I would like to come back for dinner but there are definitely better French places, even nearby.

Have been enjoying their foods ever since 20 years ago when I first moved here in DMV! Foods are always great & delicious, two thumbs up! 👍👍😋 12/8/2024 update Bistrot Du Coin once held a special place in my heart, my go-to spot for authentic, comforting French cuisine since moving to the area in 1998. From leisurely lunches to indulgent dinners, I savored their French Onion Soup, which I considered among the finest in the DMV. Their escargot, foie gras, duck confit, beef bourguignon, seafood ravioli, and Mont Blanc—all were staples of my dining repertoire. Sadly, those cherished memories now feel like distant echoes. Returning for the first time since pre-COVID, I had high hopes. Yet, this weekend lunch visit left me deeply disappointed. The hallmark flavors that once defined Bistrot Du Coin seem to have vanished entirely. Whether it’s a change in ownership or a shift in the kitchen team, the magic is undeniably gone. The French Onion Soup, once a shining example of its kind, now tastes flat and unremarkable. The Complete Omelette, equally disheartening, was bland and utterly forgettable. The one saving grace of the meal was the Au Pistou Mussel Pot—mussels in a fragrant basil and garlic sauce with prosciutto and French ham—that managed to retain the standard I once adored. Even so, it wasn’t enough to salvage the experience. As I reflect on this visit, I can’t help but debate: should I give their full dinner menu one last chance to rekindle the magic, or is it time to bid farewell to a once-beloved institution? For now, my disappointment weighs heavy, and my return feels uncertain.

The food is somewhat reasonably priced, but not drinks. $15 for bottled beer? The steak was a bit tough, nothing special. House wine is OK at about $13-15 for a small glass. They also practice a hidden fee of 5% on every check.

Ordered the Mussels Classique. Though a bountiful portion, there was absolutely no flavor in the broth, which, frankly is indeed a classic French and Belgian method of serving mussels. I mean NO flavor. Devoid of any spices. Where is the Bouquet Garnis? Dessert, a lemon tart was also bland and semi frozen. I should have returned it all to the kitchen, but opted not to. May have been a more genial course of action than this one. That said, 5 star reviews should be earned. Service was meh. It was a holiday, and frankly noone wants to work on a major holiday, but the place was not very crowded, so a little more attention would have been nice. When this restaurant opened around 2000 it was really good and that lasted for years. When my friend suggested it as a lunch option, I was all in. This was my first time there in many years and I was sadly not impressed this time. Not likely to return, and I am a little sad about seeing a neighborhood staple of a restaurant become so flavorless.

Extremely disappointing experience at Bistrot du Coin this last weekend. Came for a birthday dinner, asked in the reservation notes for an “intimate table away from another two-top or a large party”. Host acknowledged the birthday…then tried to first seat us right next to another 2-top, then next to a 10-top, before we politely requested a table out of the way (though still in a clearly open section) which was reluctantly given. Pictures online are very misleading. Wall decor was crooked and placed thoughtlessly. Lighting was overly dimmed, not in an aesthetic way. Table “cloths” are cheap plastic and tacky. We tried the French onion soup to start, which was fine. We also had the potage parmentier which was runny and had diced tomatoes that tasted oddly like they were picked out of a precut box of pico de gallo…for entrees we had the boeuf bourguignon which was similarly unmemorable and was offered on pasta? The waiter did kindly offer mashed potatoes, though this was only served to the side and came a few minutes late. Vegetables were tender, meat was overcooked, sauce was fine. We also had the steak maison, which I ordered medium rare but was served medium well. Char on the steak was overpowering and the bernaise sauce was terrible (luckily to the side). Seemed like a fine quality of meat. Fries to the side were completely unsalted. I was charged $1.00 for a 2oz ramekin of mayonnaise (was not told upfront) and had to ask for ketchup. Drinks were also disappointing—a flat Diet Coke which the server almost refused to take away and insisted on getting “fresh” until I insisted it wouldn’t come out any differently since the CO2 was clearly out. A bland, unbranded Pinot noir that was fine and the Bisou de Paris, which was good if you like a dry champagne-based cocktail that isn’t overly sweet. Overall, I felt embarrassed to bring my partner here and completely misled by reviews, pictures, and descriptions. We didn’t even mention her birthday, since they clearly didn’t care, and just rushed to pay the bill and leave. I am leaving two stars because the service was passable and some elements of the food were fine. Maybe there are better menu options? I felt like these were pretty run-of-the-mill as far as starter and entree options go. I’m shocked why anyone would pay these prices for this quality of food and atmosphere when there are ample alternatives within walking or metro distance.