About Le Diplomate
Washington’s buzziest, red-leatheriest French bistro is still jammed many nights, thanks to its no-surprises approach to Larousse Gastronomique–style cookery. This is the place if you’re in the mood for a strapping beef bourguignon, or an onion soup that tastes as if its broth has been simmering for days, or a perfectly brittle-crusted crème brûlée. But the magic of Le Dip comes from more than that—the lovely little cocktails (we’re currently hooked on the Clouseau, with bourbon, fig, and plum bitters), fresh breadbasket, and smart service all work to create one of the most harmonious dining experiences around.
Don’t miss: Seafood platter; foie gras parfait; radish crudité; cheeseburger; cassoulet; trout amandine; skate grenobloise; moules frites; profiteroles.
See what other restaurants made our 100 Very Best Restaurants list. This article appears in our February 2016 issue of Washingtonian.
Ann Limpert joined Washingtonian in late 2003. She was previously an editorial assistant at Entertainment Weekly and a cook in New York restaurant kitchens, and she is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education. She lives in Petworth.
Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.
