100 Best Restaurants 2008: Brasserie Beck

Reviewed by Todd Kliman , Ann Limpert , Cynthia Hacinli , Dave McIntyre

No. 36: Brasserie Beck

Brasserie Beck

1101 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: 202-408-1717

Cuisines:
Belgian, Modern

Opening Hours:

Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes

Nearby Metro Stops:
McPherson Square
Mt. Vernon Square/7th St.-Convention Center

Price Range:
Moderate

Dress:
Upscale Casual

Noise Level:
Chatty

Reservations:
Recommended

Special Features:
Party Space, Weekend Brunch

Parking:
Valet

Website:
Click here to open in new window.

Best Dishes
Poached egg and toasted baguette atop a garlicky mushroom sauce and spaetzle; golden fries with a trio of mayos; lush pea soup with veal-cheek meatballs.

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Reader's Rating:
4 out of 5

Cuisine: At chef Robert Wiedmaier’s second restaurant, the supper-club elegance of Marcel’s gives way to the earthiness of traditional and contemporary Belgian cooking, with its preponderance of hearty, bacony stews, its affinity for beer-spiked sauces, and its pile-it-on tendencies.

Mood: A showpiece kitchen—check out the copper pots—and gorgeous raw bar dominate the high-ceilinged space, which both evokes the train stations of Europe and re-creates the convivial spirit of the newer bistros of Brussels.

Best for: Fall and winter dining, when the big portions and the richness of the food, particularly preparations of game, leave you feeling primed for the hunt.

Best dishes: Braised rabbit with a sauce of its own juices fortified with kriek (cherry) beer; a classic coq au vin, heavy on the bacon; an elegant brandade made from real cod; a lush steak tartare; a quiche Lorraine so full of ham that it seems more Lorraine than quiche; a satiny pea soup with veal-cheek meatballs; hand-ground lamb sausage with lentils.

Insider tips: One of the most extensive selections of Belgian beers outside of Brussels, presided over by a “beer sommelier,” means that wine takes a back seat here. Given the number of sweet beers on offer—including the terrific Floris apple—and the large portions, it might make sense to finish with a brew instead of a dessert.

Service: ••½

Reader ReviewsWrite your own review
 
Good Great for Special Occasion or everyday
ldshap00 — January 26, 2009 9:34 AM
My husband and I went to Brasserie Beck for our 5 year wedding anniversary. I thought that the tables were a bit too close together. It makes it rather uncomfortable to have an intimate dinner. The service was mostly good; however, on several More ...
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Good Best French Bread in DC!
sromer2 — January 22, 2009 2:34 PM
Brasserie Beck is a welcome addition to the Washington dining scene. It has a lively atmosphere, is filled with beautiful people, and has half decent food. If you like mussels, you'll be pleased with the variety of preparations they offer and the More ...
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