100 Best Restaurants 2009: Brasserie Beck

Reviewed by Todd Kliman , Ann Limpert , Cynthia Hacinli , Rina Rapuano , Eve Zibart

No. 61: Brasserie Beck

Brasserie Beck

1101 K St., 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
Lamb sausage with lentils; pea soup with veal-cheek meatballs; frites with three mayos; mushrooms and spaetzle with a poached egg; coq au vin; snails; black-currant-and-fig clafoutis.

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Reader's Rating:
4 out of 5

Cuisine: Rich Belgian fare—beer braises, root vegetables, and bacon-studded stews—served in herculean portions.

Mood: Vintage train-station touches conjure the romance of backpacking through Europe, while the squished-together tables can make it feel as though you’re actually on a Eurorail train. The open kitchen glows, giving the high-ceilinged room a warm feel.

Best for: Enjoying mussels and fries at the lively bar, a happy hour with colleagues, or a sit-down dinner with friends.

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; hand-ground lamb sausage with lentils; coq au vin with large bits of good bacon.

Insider tips: You might be tempted to drink Delirium Tremens or Stella Artois, but beer director Bill Catron has been knighted by a Belgian beer guild, so here’s your chance to branch out and try rare varieties—some found nowhere else in this country.

Service: ••½

Open Monday through Friday for lunch and dinner, Saturday for dinner, Sunday for brunch and dinner. Moderate to expensive.

See all of 2009's 100 Best Restaurant

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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